The rupee gained 42 paise to close at 91.51 (provisional) against the U.S. dollar on Monday (February 2, 2026), a day after the Union Budget 2026-27 was presented, largely as crude oil prices retreated from their elevated levels. Also Read | Rupee hits all-time low of 92 against U.S
The Union Budget 2026 has proposed a significant change that directly affects investors who borrow funds to invest in dividend-paying stocks or mutual funds. The proposal removes the existing tax benefit that allowed investors to claim a deduction on interest paid for such borrowings
West Bengal emerged as a major beneficiary of railway-led infrastructure expansion this weekend, with a series of announcements signalling a significant boost for connectivity in the state, particularly in North Bengal. A day after the Ministry of Railways cleared three new railway line projects
Hours before she was scheduled to lead a Trinamool Congress (TMC) delegation to meet Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday alleged that Bengalis in the Capital were being
The NFL's 2025 season has provided the most wide-open race for the Super Bowl in years. Now just the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks remain and they will meet on Sunday to decide the NFL champions. It is a title New England have held six times but this is their first Super Bowl since
Congress slams 'trouble-engine' U.P. govt. for 'brutal lathi-charge' on MGNREGA Bachao protesters
Congress slams 'trouble-engine' U.P. govt. for 'brutal lathi-charge' on MGNREGA Bachao protesters
The Congress on Sunday (January 11, 2026) alleged that the "Yogi-Modi trouble-engine" government in Uttar Pradesh ordered the police to "brutally lathi-charge" National Students' Union of India (NSUI) protesters taking out a peaceful march in Varanasi as part of the party's nationwide 'MGNREGA Bachao Sangram'.
Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, shared a video clip in which police could be seen purportedly pushing and using force against the protesters.
In Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Parliamentary Constituency Varanasi, students, led by NSUI national president and my young colleague Varun Chaudhary, held a 'MGNREGA Bachao Sangram' march, Mr. Ramesh said in a post in Hindi on X.
"It was a completely peaceful and democratic demonstration conducted within the framework of constitutional rights, but the Yogi-Modi 'trouble-engine' government was so afraid of being questioned that it ordered the police to brutally lathi-charge the protesters," he alleged.
The NSUI is the student wing of the Congress. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi also lashed out at the BJP over the incident.
"The brutal use of force and arrests targeting NSUI students peacefully protesting in Varanasi against the dismantling of MNREGA and the denial of the right to employment to millions of workers is highly condemnable. We strongly condemn this cowardly act," she said in a post in Hindi on X.
"The Narendra Modi government is snatching away the legal right to employment from millions of workers, and those who raise their voices are being subjected to brute force. Every single worker of the Congress party stands firmly against this injustice, oppression, and repression," she said.
On Saturday (January 10), the Congress launched its 45-day nationwide campaign — MGNREGA Bachao Sangram — against the repeal of the UPA-era rural employment law by holding press conferences at every district.
The Opposition party's agitation demanding the withdrawal of the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act and restoration of MGNREGA as a rights-based law in its original form, the right to work, and the authority of panchayats will continue till February 25.
Press conferences were held at all the district headquarters on Saturday (January 10), highlighting the manner in which MGNREGA was repealed and replaced by the VB-G RAM G Act in the Winter Session of Parliament.
This was followed by a day-long fast and symbolic protests at the district headquarters on Sunday (January 11). From January 12 to 29, chaupals and mass contact programmes will be organised at all the gram panchayats, followed by ward-level peaceful sit-ins on January 30 to press for the right to work.
“From February 7 to 15, State-level gheraos of Vidhan Sabhas will be organised, while four major rallies will be held between February 16 and 25 before the culmination of the nationwide movement,” the party said.
The Congress is demanding the complete withdrawal of the VB-G RAM G law and restoration of MGNREGA. It has said that while the agitation against the now-repealed black farm laws was Delhi-centric, the MGNREGA Bachao Sangram will be panchayat, block, district, and State-centric
The VB-G RAM G, was passed with a voice vote amid protests in the Rajya Sabha on December 18, 2025, hours after the Lok Sabha cleared it.
On December 21, President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Bill, making it an Act, guaranteeing 125 days of wage employment per rural household every financial year.
Published - January 12, 2026 08:28 am IST
government / Indian National Congress / Narendra Modi
Source: TheHindu
Related Posts: Gold Price January 30 Congress-DMK will begin seat-sharing talks soon Congress and DMK to begin seat-sharing talks next week Congress leader Muraleedharan says not in PM Modi to visit Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Punjab today Hyundai achieves its highest-ever monthly domestic sales in January 2026 Kia sells 27,603 cars in January 2026, registers 10 IGNOU extends last date for January 2026 admission Air Quality remains ‘very poor’ despite Sunday showers PM Modi’s Luxury Watch
Nabha Natesh's mesmerizing first look as Parvathi intensifies the divine mystery of Nagabandham. New Delhi: One of the most anticipated pan-India films of 2026, Nagabandham, has been steadily building excitement with a series of striking posters and character reveals
24 minutes ago
A Bangladesh court on Monday (February 2, 2026) sentenced deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to 10 years in jail in two separate corruption cases related to alleged irregularities in allocations of land in a government housing project. Dhaka Special Judge's Court-4 Judge Rabiul Alam handed down
24 minutes ago
Tom Banton hit 54 not out off 33 balls and England won the second T20 against Sri Lanka by six wickets with two balls remaining under the DLS method to clinch the series. England has a 2-0 lead in the three-match series ahead of cricket's T20 World Cup, which starts on Saturday (February 7, 2026)
24 minutes ago
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee met families affected by the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) at Delhi's Banga Bhavan on Monday, accusing Delhi Police of failing citizens. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met families affected by the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) at Banga Bhavan in
24 minutes ago
The global ratings anticipates that these growth rates continue to place India above sovereign peers at similar income levels and should continue to support fiscal revenue increase. New Delhi: Robust consumer spending and public investments will maintain India's real GDP growth at 6
24 minutes ago
A political row broke out after Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Parliament quoted an excerpt from the unpublished memoir of former Army chief MM Naravane. The excerpt was about the political decision-making during the 2020 border tensions between India and China
24 minutes ago
Goa has long been a favourite beach destination for Indian travellers, celebrated for its vibrant parties, delicious food and stunning sea views. However, recent concerns about rising prices, poor cleanliness, traffic jams, and a lack of basic civic sense have dampened the experience for many
24 minutes ago
Brett Ratner, the director of the newly-released documentary on US First Lady Melania Trump, has appeared in the files concerning the probe into late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking network. The US Department of Justice, on Friday, released the latest cache of the Epstein Files
24 minutes ago
Actor-politician Vijay stated his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, has grown significantly due to public support. He asserted that TVK alone possesses the strength to defeat the DMK in the upcoming Assembly elections. Vijay believes the electoral battle will be a direct contest between TVK and the
24 minutes ago
Vijay Sales has introduced limited-period Valentine's Day deals on Apple's latest smartphones, offering price cuts on the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro, along with further savings through select bank card transactions. Customers using ICICI Bank credit or debit cards on EMI purchases can access
24 minutes ago
A Bangladeshi court on Monday sentenced deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to 10 years imprisonment in two corruption cases relating to alleged irregularities in the allocations of land in a government housing project in Dhaka, The Daily Star reported
24 minutes ago
Former Indian cricketer Subramaniam Badrinath has taken a swipe at Pakistan following the government's decision to have its men's team boycott the group-stage clash against India in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Former Indian cricketer Subramaniam Badrinath has taken a swipe at Pakistan following
24 minutes ago
Civil society groups and rural employment activists have criticised the Union Budget's allocations for rural job schemes, alleging that the government has offered little clarity on the transition from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to the new Viksit
24 minutes ago
The partial US government shutdown entered its third day on Monday without resolution as Democrats continued to demand immigration reforms as part of any funding deal to reopen the government. Senate Democrats and Republicans agreed to a package of five spending bills on Thursday
24 minutes ago
The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to three persons accused of tampering with blood samples in connection with an investigation into a car crash in Pune in May 2024 that killed two, Bar and Bench reported. A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan granted bail to Aditya Avinash Sood
24 minutes ago
On World Cancer Day, India must confront a hard truth. Head and neck cancers represent one of the largest and most neglected cancer burdens in the country, and tobacco is the single biggest driver behind it. This is not a disease of rare genetic bad luck. It is a man-made
24 minutes ago
In the footage, a group of uniformed firefighters is seen using buckets from a nearby water source to pour over the flames. The video raises broader concerns about the country's emergency response systems. Several netizens pointed out that in the footage
24 minutes ago
Actor posted a video of the matter, in which he can be seen confronting the waiter and demanding an explanation while waiter and manager are seen seeking apologies. A waiter at a popular pub on Park Street in Kolkata was taken into custody on Saturday after Bengali actor and social media influencer
24 minutes ago
The BJP Parliamentary Board has appointed Tarun Chugh as the central observer for the election of the legislature party leader in Manipur. This move signals the potential formation of a new government in the northeastern state. NDA MLAs from Manipur have arrived in the national capital for
24 minutes ago
Iran said negotiations with the United States over a new nuclear deal could begin in the coming days, as diplomatic efforts intensify to avert a potential military conflict between the two sides. President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered the start of negotiations with Washington “within the
24 minutes ago
As protesters filled the streets of Milan this weekend over the presence of ICE agents in Italy, a very different reality awaits athletes heading into the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, which begin next week. While politics are bubbling loudly outside the venues
24 minutes ago
Reaching for an antacid has become almost as routine as drinking a cup of tea. For many people, acidity is seen as a harmless daily discomfort, something to suppress and move on from. But this common habit hides a dangerous misunderstanding. Acidity is not a disease; it is a symptom
24 minutes ago
The year 2026 could bring a significant turning point for salaried employees. A major decision related to the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is expected soon. The central government is seriously considering increasing the EPF wage ceiling. If this proposal is approved
24 minutes ago
A 20-year-old female student was found dead in her hostel room at the BITS Pilani campus in South Goa, police said on Monday. The student, identified as Vishnavi Jitesh (20), was a third-year engineering student. Police said she was found hanging from a ceiling fan with a bedsheet tied around her
24 minutes ago
A key issue in achieving the target set by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to increase expected years of schooling in India to 15 years (it is currently 13 years) was the “uneven distribution of schools”, the Union government said on Thursday (January 29
24 minutes ago
Three PGA Tour victories and two near misses in the majors have left Justin Rose feeling vindicated by his decision to reject offers from the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf series. The Englishman claimed his 13th PGA Tour title on Sunday after a dominant week at Torrey Pines in California
24 minutes ago
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has launched an attack on Election Commission after meeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) issue. Speaking with the press after meeting the EC officials
24 minutes ago
