HIGHLIGHTS

New Delhi, Feb 4 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 9.24 pm: NATION DEL66 PM-LD KUMBH

PM to visit Maha Kumbh Mela Wednesday, take holy dip at Sangam around 11 am New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj on Wednesday and take a holy dip at the Sangam around 11 am, his office said.

DEL57 DL-POLLS-LD CURTAIN RAISER

Battle for Capital: AAP eyes third term; BJP, Cong look at resurgence as Delhi votes tomorrow New Delhi: The stage is set for the high-stakes Assembly elections in Delhi, where the Aam Aadmi Party is eyeing a third straight term, while the BJP and the Congress are looking at resurgence.

DEL8 US-INDIANS-DEPORTATION

US says removing illegal migrants New Delhi: The United States is rigorously tightening immigration laws, the American embassy said on Tuesday amid reports that a US military aircraft is bringing some illegal migrants to India.

DEL63 MHA-LD KASHMIR

Amit Shah reviews JK security situation with top officials New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir which has witnessed a few terror incidents in the recent past, sources said.

DEL46 MEA-BHUTAN-KING

Bhutan King paying special visit to India at PM Modi's invitation: MEA New Delhi: Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck is paying a special visit to India to attend the Maha Kumbh Mela and it is in keeping with the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday.

DEL48 PGA-INDIA-VISIT

President of UN General Assembly Yang on 4-day India visit New Delhi: President of the UN General Assembly Philemon Yang is paying a four-day visit to India beginning Tuesday.

DEL35 ED-TN-CASE

ED seizes Rs 1,000-cr worth assets of Chennai-based firm in PMLA case New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate Tuesday said it has seized assets worth Rs 1,000 crore after it recently conducted searches against a Chennai-based company which is alleged to have "fraudulently" acquired coal blocks in Chhattisgarh.

DEL70 HEALTH-NMC-APPEAL

NMC allows patients to complain against doctors, yet to formalise decision New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has decided to hear patients' complaints against doctors related to medical negligence or professional misconduct, officials said.

DEL43 JAISHANKAR-IIC-LD LECTURE

India-EU relationship more important than ever; stronger ties can be stabilising factor: Jaishankar New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said a stronger India-EU relationship can be an "important stabilising factor" in a world that promises to be "so volatile and uncertain".

DEL59 UP-KUMBH OPPN-LD CM REAX

Kharge, Akhilesh were hoping for bigger tragedy at Maha Kumbh: UP CM Adityanath Prayagraj: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, alleging that they and some "Sanatan-opposing elements" wanted a larger disaster to unfold at the Maha Kumbh stampede.

BOM38 CG-NAXAL-LD MURDER

Naxals kill 2 men, including ex-colleague, in Bijapur on suspicion of being cop informers Bijapur (Chhattisgarh): Naxalites hacked to death two men, one of them their former colleague, at a village in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on the suspicion of being police informers, an official said on Tuesday.

BOM26 GJ-2ND LD UCC-PANEL

Gujarat forms panel to assess need for UCC, draft bill; Oppn calls it diversionary move Gandhinagar: The BJP government in Gujarat on Tuesday formed a committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to assess the need for the Uniform Civil Code in the state, and also draft a bill for the same.

BOM33 MH-BMC-LD BUDGET

BMC presents its biggest-ever Rs 74,427 crore budget, no hike in taxes Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday presented a Rs 74,427.41 crore budget, its biggest-ever, for financial year 2025-26 without any hike in taxes.

CAL14 WB-COURT-RG KAR

RG Kar corruption case: Hearing for framing of charges likely to start on Wednesday Kolkata: Hearing for framing of charges against the accused persons in a corruption case related to alleged financial irregularities at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital during the tenure of its former principal Sandip Ghosh is likely to commence on Wednesday before a special court at Alipore here.

MDS13 TL-ASSEMBLY-LD SURVEY

Telangana Assembly passes resolution asking Centre to conduct nationwide caste survey Hyderabad: The Telangana Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution on Tuesday, urging the Centre to emulate the household caste and socioeconomic survey conducted by the state government.

MDS12 TN-LD TEMPLE-ACTIVISTS-ARREST

Hindu Munnani holds massive protest in TN over Thiruparankundram hill issue Madurai (Tamil Nadu): The Hindu Munnani members staged a massive protest at Palanganatham here on Tuesday evening, barely hours after the Madras High Court gave its nod for the agitation at the new venue against the incident of a group of persons consuming non-vegetarian food at Thiruparankundram hill.

MDS8 KL-KERALA-SURVIVAL-LD-MINISTER

Kerala 'survives' only with assistance from Centre, says Union Minister Kurian Thiruvananthapuram/ New Delhi: Days after sparking controversy with his 'backward' remark about the state, Union Minister George Kurian said on Tuesday that Kerala "survives" only with the assistance of the Centre and that there is not a single project the state can claim as its own.

LEGAL LGD29 DL-COURT-LD THAROOR DEFAMATION

'Never named party, Chandrasekhar': Court junks defamation case against Congress MP Shashi Tharoor New Delhi: A Delhi court on Tuesday dismissed a criminal complaint filed by BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar against Congress MP Shashi Tharoor accusing him of defamation.

LGD32 SC-NHAI-LAND ACQUISITION

Grant of solatium to landowners to apply retrospectively: SC rejects NHAI plea over 2019 verdict New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled its 2019 decision allowing grant of compensation and interest to farmers, whose land were acquired under the NHAI Act would apply retrospectively.

LGD22 DL-HC-LD RASHID

Jurisdiction row: Delhi HC official writes to SC over J&K MP Rashid Engineer bail plea New Delhi: The Delhi High Court registrar general has written to the Supreme Court over the issue of jurisdiction of the court which should ideally hear jailed J&K MP Rashid Engineer's bail plea in a NIA case.

LGD15 SC-NEET-PG COUNSELLING

NEET-PG 2024: SC asks Centre, others to respond on plea for fresh counselling New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought responses from the Centre, the National Medical Commission and others on a plea seeking fresh counselling of all India quota (AIQ) round 3 of NEET-PG 2024.

LGD31 SC-ASSAM-ENCOUNTERS

Not possible to look into each case, will see if guidelines on encounter followed: SC New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it couldn't go into the merit of the alleged 171 police encounters in Assam from May, 2021 to August, 2022 but only see whether its guidelines on such extra-judicial killings were duly followed.

FOREIGN FGN9 UN-INDIA-BUDGET

India pays $37.64 million to UN regular budget for 2025 United Nations: India has paid USD 37.64 million dollars to the United Nations Regular Budget for 2025, joining the "honour roll" of 35 member states who have paid their regular budget assessments in full and on time to the UN.

FGN45 MALDIVES-INDIA-LD TOURISM (RPT)

Maldives sets target to woo 3,00,000 Indian tourists in 2025 Male: The Maldives government has set a target of attracting 3,00,000 Indian tourists in 2025 after their numbers slumped from the top place in 2023 to sixth in 2024 following strained relations between Male and New Delhi.

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Source: PTI