MoS Athawale backs Budget in Rajya Sabha, takes poetic swipe at Kharge

IANS | February 12, 2026 5:50 PM

New Delhi, Feb 12 (IANS) Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Thursday backed the Union Budget 2026 in the Rajya Sabha, delivering a characteristically poetic endorsement of the government's performance while taking a swipe at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and other Opposition leaders.

Broke Pakistan is splurging on pay & perks of military, civil officials

IANS | February 12, 2026 4:36 PM

New Delhi, Feb 12 (IANS) A structural issue responsible for perpetuating Pakistan’s dependence on the IMF is its failure to control expenditure, which has spiralled, at both federal and provincial levels, via salary increases far exceeding inflation for the civil, judicial, and military bureaucracies alongside expanding vehicle fleets, luxury housing, plush offices, overseas junkets, and discretionary budgets, often without mandates, sunset clauses or performance tests, according to an article in the Pakistani media.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta meets President Droupadi Murmu

IANS | February 12, 2026 4:13 PM

New Delhi, Feb 12 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, on Thursday, met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan here and exchanged views on inclusive development, an official said.