'Insult to Maharashtra': Congress, NCP (SP) Slam Padma Bhushan for Former Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari 2
Congress and NCP (SP) leaders on Monday strongly criticised the decision to confer the Padma Bhushan on former Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, calling it an insult to the state and its people.
Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal said Koshyari’s tenure from September 2019 to February 2023 was marked by repeated controversies and actions that, he claimed, demeaned a constitutional office and hurt public sentiment. Speaking after attending the Republic Day function at the Congress office, Sapkal said he had even declined an award from a social organisation in Pune as it was to be presented by Koshyari.
Mumbai Congress chief and Lok Sabha MP Varsha Gaikwad alleged that the BJP had a history of insulting Maharashtra’s revered leaders and constitutional icons. She said Koshyari had earlier made remarks perceived as disrespectful to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule, adding that honouring him with a Padma award was “an insult to Maharashtra”.
Echoing the criticism, NCP (SP) spokesperson Clyde Crasto said Koshyari had repeatedly made controversial statements that hurt the sentiments of Maharashtrians. Awarding him the Padma Bhushan reflected the BJP’s “arrogance of power” and disregard for Maharashtra’s history and cultural pride, he alleged.
Koshyari had earlier faced criticism for describing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as “an icon of the olden times”. His tenure also saw frequent run-ins with the Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by Uddhav Thackeray, who had accused the former governor of being overactive and of not filling 12 vacant seats in the state Legislative Council despite recommendations from the elected government.
From Operation Sindoor to Indigenous Missiles, India Showcases Military Power at 77th Republic Day 4
India marked its 77th Republic Day on Monday with a grand parade that showcased the country’s cultural diversity, economic progress and growing military strength, including indigenous missiles, frontline weapon systems and platforms deployed during Operation Sindoor.
President Droupadi Murmu took the salute at Kartavya Path, accompanied by chief guests António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen, marking a significant diplomatic moment alongside the military display. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, senior ministers, top military leadership and foreign diplomats were among those present.
While the overarching theme celebrated 150 years of Vande Mataram, Operation Sindoor featured prominently, reflecting India’s recent operational preparedness. The parade highlighted the country’s strategic autonomy, with Russian-origin platforms displayed alongside US-manufactured systems.
Among the major weapon systems on display were BrahMos supersonic missiles, Akash air defence systems, the Suryastra universal rocket launcher, Main Battle Tank Arjun, Dhanush artillery guns and the Divyastra battery. A tri-services tableau recreated key elements of Operation Sindoor, including a glass-cased integrated operational centre depicting the use of BrahMos and S-400 systems during the May 7–10 conflict with Pakistan.
Before the parade began, President Murmu conferred the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, on Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who created history by becoming the first Indian to visit the International Space Station last year.
For the first time, the Army showcased a phased ‘Battle Array Format’, including aerial components, mechanised columns and Special Forces units, along with robotic dogs and unmanned ground vehicles. Newly raised Bhairav battalion, a specialised assault infantry unit, also made its debut.
The Indian Navy and Air Force contingents added to the spectacle, with naval and aviation tableaux underscoring the theme of a strong military for a strong nation. A fly-past by Rafale, Su-30 MKI, MiG-29 and Jaguar aircraft in the ‘Sindoor Formation’ drew loud applause.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation unveiled its hypersonic glide missile LR-AShM, capable of engaging both static and moving targets. In all, 30 tableaux representing states, Union Territories and central ministries rolled down Kartavya Path, blending patriotism with India’s rapid progress.
Nearly 10,000 special guests from diverse backgrounds witnessed the celebrations, as India reaffirmed its unity, resilience and rising military prowess on its 77th Republic Day.
Tricolour Is India's Pride; Don’t Divide Nation Through Colours: Congress Maha Chief Harshwardhan Sapkal 6
The Tricolour symbolises the nation’s honour, dignity and pride, but certain forces are attempting to divide society by politicising green and saffron for narrow political gains, Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal said on Monday.
Speaking after hoisting the national flag at the Congress office on the occasion of Republic Day, Sapkal urged party workers to take the Tricolour to every corner of Maharashtra and reinforce its unifying message.
“The Tricolour represents the honour, dignity and pride of the nation. Some political forces are trying to create divisions by politicising green and saffron colours for their own interests,” he said.
Sapkal stressed that both colours deserve equal respect, noting that green symbolises prosperity while saffron stands for sacrifice and honour. “The Tricolour represents the larger idea of India. Many have shed their blood for it, and even today we are prepared to make sacrifices to protect it,” he asserted.
Highlighting the role of the Indian National Congress, Sapkal said the party made immense contributions to the freedom struggle and nation-building after Independence. He added that the spirit of struggle must be kept alive to safeguard constitutional values.
BSF Recovers Body of Pakistani Intruder Shot Along International Border in J&K’s Samba 8
The body of a Pakistani intruder who was shot dead by the Border Security Force was recovered from the International Border in Samba district on Monday, officials said.
The intruder was gunned down late Sunday night while attempting to sneak into Indian territory through the Check Majra border outpost area in the Ramgarh sector. BSF personnel noticed suspicious movement under the cover of darkness and challenged the individual. When he failed to heed repeated warnings, the troops opened fire, officials said.
The body was later retrieved and handed over to the police for legal formalities. Documents recovered from the deceased revealed his identity as Mohd Arif (61), a resident of Lahore, officials added.
In a separate incident, the Special Operations Group of the local police detained a suspected individual from Daboh village in Samba district after several Pakistani contact numbers were found on his mobile phone during frisking. The person has been taken to the Samba police station for questioning as part of an ongoing investigation.
Security has been tightened along the International Border in the area following the incidents, officials said.
At least 11 security personnel were injured after improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by Maoists exploded during an anti-Naxalite operation in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, officials said on Monday.
The blasts occurred on Sunday in the forested Karregutta Hills, a known Maoist stronghold, during a combing operation, a police official said. Ten of the injured personnel belong to the District Reserve Guard (DRG), while one is from the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, or CoBRA, an elite unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
The injured CoBRA personnel has been identified as Rudresh Singh, a sub-inspector with the 210th battalion. Singh and two DRG personnel sustained injuries to their legs, while three others suffered splinter injuries to their eyes. All the injured have been shifted to a hospital in Raipur for treatment, the official said.
Security forces had established a camp in Tadpala village under Usoor police station limits in the Karregutta region in November last year, considering the area a safe hideout for senior Maoist leaders. The region has witnessed repeated operations against Left-wing extremism.
In April–May last year, central and state forces carried out a 21-day-long operation in the dense forests of the Karregutta Hills, during which 31 Naxalites were killed. At the time, forces recovered 35 weapons, around 450 IEDs, and a large cache of detonators, explosive materials, medical supplies, electrical equipment and Maoist literature, police had said.
Operations in the area are continuing with heightened caution amid concerns over hidden explosives in the forest terrain.
NCP (SP) Emerges Kingmaker in Sangli, Akola Civic Polls as BJP Misses Majority 11
The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) has emerged as a key player in the formation of power in the Sangli and Akola municipal corporations after the Bharatiya Janata Party fell short of a majority in both civic bodies despite emerging as the single largest party.
In the 78-member Sangli, Miraj and Kupwad Municipal Corporation, the BJP secured 39 seats, one short of the majority mark. The Shiv Sena won two seats, Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party bagged 16, while the Indian National Congress won 18 seats. The NCP (SP), with three corporators, has emerged as a potential kingmaker.
A similar situation has unfolded in the 80-member Akola Municipal Corporation, where the BJP won 38 seats, again falling short of a majority. The Congress secured 21 seats, the NCP and Shiv Sena one seat each, the Shiv Sena (UBT) six seats, and the NCP (SP) three. Ten seats were won by others, including the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi and independents.
With no party crossing the halfway mark, intense negotiations are underway in both cities to form governing alliances. The NCP (SP), which has three corporators in each civic body, is reported to be in talks with the BJP, though party leaders have been cautious in their public statements.
Responding to speculation in Sangli, NCP (SP) corporator Abhijit Koli said the party had contested the elections as part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi and would prioritise public welfare and regional development. “Whether we sit in the opposition or join the ruling side, our work will focus on people’s welfare. Our next step will be decided by our leader Jayant Patil and Congress leaders Vishal Patil and Vishwajit Kadam,” he said.
On the Akola situation, NCP (SP) state president Shashikant Shinde said discussions were ongoing at the local level among all parties to explore the formation of a civic front focused on development. “I have made it clear that any such arrangement, including with the BJP, should not be at the political level with party symbols,” he said.
As negotiations continue, the final shape of the civic administrations in Sangli and Akola is expected to hinge on the stance taken by the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP).
Ajit Pawar Will Return to MVA, NCP Factions to Reunite: Sanjay Raut 13
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday claimed that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar would eventually return to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), asserting that the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) were headed towards reunification.
Speaking to reporters, Raut said the ruling NCP and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) had effectively come together, pointing to the fact that both factions are contesting the upcoming Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections on the ‘clock’ symbol. “Though Ajit Pawar is part of the Mahayuti, he is still emotionally connected with the MVA. Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar will come together. Ajit Pawar cannot step on two stones,” Raut said.
Ajit Pawar had joined the then Eknath Shinde-led government in July 2024 along with eight MLAs, triggering a split in the NCP. His faction retained the party name and the ‘clock’ symbol, while the outfit led by Sharad Pawar is now known as NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar).
The two NCP factions have recently contested municipal corporation elections together in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad and have announced a tie-up for the third phase of civic body polls scheduled for February 5, where they will contest on the Ajit Pawar-led party’s symbol.
Raut also alleged growing unease within the ruling Mahayuti, claiming that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is unhappy with the BJP over the mayoral post in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. He claimed that even the BJP’s central leadership in Delhi was unwilling to relent on the issue.
In the recently held civic elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party won 89 seats, while its ally Shiv Sena secured 29, giving the Mahayuti a narrow majority in the 227-member BMC. Shinde has maintained that Mumbai will have a Mahayuti mayor, though he has not clarified how the post will be shared among alliance partners.
Though largely ceremonial, the Mumbai mayor’s post is seen as a powerful symbol of political dominance, with the mayor presiding over key meetings of the country’s richest civic body.
'Never Crossed Party Line': Shashi Tharoor Defends Stand on Operation Sindoor, Says India Comes First 15
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said he has never violated the party’s stated position in Parliament, asserting that his only principled public disagreement was over Operation Sindhoor, a stance he said he remains “unapologetic” about.
Speaking during a session at the Kerala Literature Festival, Tharoor addressed reports suggesting differences with the Congress leadership, including speculation that he was unhappy over not being adequately acknowledged by Rahul Gandhi at a recent event in Kochi and alleged attempts by state leaders to sideline him.
Clarifying his position, Tharoor said that as a writer and observer, he had penned a newspaper column following the Pahalgam incident, arguing that such an attack should not go unpunished and that a limited, kinetic response was warranted. He stressed that while India remains focused on development, it should not be drawn into a prolonged conflict with Pakistan, and that any action should be restricted to targeting terrorist infrastructure.
“To my surprise, the government did exactly what I had recommended,” Tharoor said, adding that his views were guided by national interest rather than partisan considerations.
Invoking India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Tharoor recalled the question, “Who lives if India dies?” and said that when the country’s security and global standing are at stake, national interest must take precedence over political differences.
“Political parties will always have disagreements as part of the democratic process,” he said. “But when it comes to India’s security and its place in the world, India must come first.”
India saw an interview. Then India lost its breath. Not because of pollution—habit has made us immune—but because Gita Gopinath dared to say it out loud.
Cue outrage.
The charge sheet was familiar: anti-India, bad-mouthing the nation, washing dirty linen abroad. Apparently, pollution is patriotic only when it stays silent.
Let’s get the boring question out of the way before the shouting resumes: what exactly did she say that was false? That pollution kills Indians? That investors think twice before sending people—and money—into cities that resemble gas chambers? That environmental collapse is an economic problem, not a poetry slam by activists?
If stating facts is treason, then India’s real enemy is data.
Here’s the irony thick enough to choke on: at the same summit, Gopinath also said India is on course to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2028. That line vanished faster than clean air in Delhi in November. Selective hearing is now a national sport.
Economists, inconveniently, are paid to ruin the mood. They don’t clap on cue; they count. And counting is exactly what Gopinath did—in her interaction with India Today at the World Economic Forum. Her central thesis was brutally simple: pollution is not an activist issue; it’s a macroeconomic one.
Around 1.7 million deaths a year. A drag of 5–9% of GDP from healthcare losses and reduced productivity. Tariffs? Negotiable. Pollution? Permanent.
Capital doesn’t move alone; people move with it. And when cities become unlivable, high-value investment develops a sudden allergy. This is not hatred for India. This is concern for India—expressed in the dull, unforgiving language of economics.
But outrage requires simpler villains. So we attacked the messenger instead of opening a window.
Let’s be clear: no serious global investor decides to invest—or flee—because of one interview. They study data, demographics, stability, quality of life, governance, and yes, air and water. Pretending otherwise is not nationalism; it’s cosplay.
Calling Gopinath “anti-India” is like blaming the thermometer for the fever. It also reveals a deeper insecurity: if the government isn’t talking about a problem, it must not exist. A logic so elegant it should be taught in civics—as satire.
Consider this: industrial pollution contributes over half of the country’s air pollution. Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from thermal power plants ruin lungs and invite acid rain like an RSVP. Of the world’s most polluted cities, India regularly hosts a majority. Millions breathe air several times over WHO’s safe limits. These are not opinions. These are invoices—paid with human lives.
Gopinath, a Harvard professor—yes, Harvard University—did what economists are trained to do: identify obstacles to growth. She didn’t wave placards; she read reports, including those by the World Bank. She called a spade a spade. We responded by checking her passport.
Here’s a radical thought: instead of screaming, put her on an advisory board. Take the free advice. Fix policy leaks. Build sustainable growth that doesn’t require inhalers as GDP multipliers. That’s what grown-up nations do.
But grown-up debates don’t trend. Outrage does.
So let me give this in writing, for the record: by 2030, pollution will be an election issue. Then the same voices shouting today will discover lungs, children, and air quality—with dramatic background music. Until then, denial will be marketed as patriotism.
This entire episode is a slap—on our media, which edited out context, and on governance, which treats environmental ruin as a footnote. Real patriotism is not chest-thumping. It’s problem-solving.
Let economists be economists. Judge comments by economic realism, not nationalist sentiment. Stop demanding “godi economists” who convert facts into lullabies.
Because stating facts is not anti-India. Pollution is not a slogan; it’s a bill. And real love for the country begins with the courage to say: we can—and must—do better.
Shoot the messenger if you like. The smog will still be there tomorrow morning, waiting for your anthem to clear it.
Former BMC Chief Iqbal Singh Chahal Appointed Head of Mumbai Police Housing Project with MoS Rank 19
Senior IAS officer and former Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal has been appointed chairman of the Maharashtra government’s Mumbai Police Housing Township Project, a position that carries the rank and status of a Minister of State, according to a government resolution issued on Wednesday.
Chahal, who is currently serving as Additional Chief Secretary (Home), will assume the new role after his superannuation at the end of this month. The appointment will take effect from February 1, 2026, the resolution said.
The Mumbai Police Housing Township Project is a flagship initiative aimed at providing quality residential accommodation to police personnel and their families, with a focus on improving living conditions and overall welfare of the force. The project involves extensive planning, land acquisition, infrastructure development, coordination with multiple government agencies, financial management and time-bound execution.
Explaining the decision, the government said it was “expedient and necessary” to appoint a senior retired officer with proven administrative competence to provide strategic leadership and oversight for the successful implementation of the project. The resolution highlighted Chahal’s more than 36 years of experience in administration, project management and inter-governmental coordination, describing his service record as impeccable.
Chahal, who retires from service on January 31, had earlier missed out on the post of chief secretary, which went to his batchmate Rajesh Aggarwal. Apart from serving as BMC commissioner during the COVID-19 pandemic, he has also held key responsibilities in the Chief Minister’s Office.
The government resolution clarified that Chahal’s appointment as chairman of the Mumbai Police Housing Township Project will be in a rank and status equivalent to that of a Minister of State in the Government of Maharashtra.
