Feb 11 News Live | After Rahul's fiery attack, Nirmala Sitharaman speaks in Parliament

DMK, TVK workers clash in North Chennai; allegations of voter intimidation surface

A violent clash broke out between DMK supporters and volunteers of Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in the Harbour constituency of North Chennai on February 10, leaving several people injured, police said. The incident occurred in the Parry’s Corner area and resulted in hospitalisations on both sides, with security tightened to prevent further escalation.

According to residents, the trouble began when TVK volunteers conducting door-to-door “field work” allegedly sought sensitive information such as Aadhaar details, ration card numbers and G-Pay-linked mobile numbers. Some locals claimed they were pressured to vote for Vijay, leading to a heated exchange that escalated into a scuffle.

Witnesses alleged that women were assaulted during the clash, while injured residents receiving treatment at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital claimed they were pushed and manhandled.

TVK volunteers, some admitted to Stanley Government Hospital, denied the allegations and accused DMK cadres of initiating the violence. Vijay, in a post on X, alleged that over “100 goons” linked to the DMK carried out an unprovoked attack on his party workers.

Congress sold farmers at 2013 WTO meet, claims Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday accused the Congress of compromising farmers’ interests during the 2013 World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting in Bali, while defending the Modi government’s record.

“The Opposition says that India is selling the farmers, Modi ji has surrendered. PM Modi has stood on the frontlines to talk for the needs of the farmers,” Sitharaman said in the Lok Sabha.

“I’ll tell you who has really sold the farmers. In 2013, the Congress went to the WTO in Bali and made a two-fold agreement — one on trade facilitation and the other on public stockholding of grains,” she said.

According to Sitharaman, the agreement restricted India’s ability to procure from farmers and provide food rations. “Unless PM Modi had not fought for it in the WTO in 2014 and secured a peace clause, procurement at MSP would have been difficult,” she added.

Complete pending railway projects first, says Sitharaman; takes swipe at Mamata over fuel prices

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday took a dig at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over fuel prices and urged the state to expedite long-pending railway projects.

“If you want to reduce the burden on the common man, then compared to Delhi, why are the petrol prices ₹10 more. You should reduce that first,” Sitharaman said in the Lok Sabha.

Highlighting delays in railway development in West Bengal, she said several projects had remained stagnant for decades. “Prime Minister has been saying since 2014 that all the railway announcements that have been made, please complete those cases first that have not been completed yet, even if they were announced by other parties,” she said.

Sitharaman claimed that 28 railway projects pending since 1990 were completed during the Modi government’s tenure. “172 such projects were announced from 2000 to 2014, and we are in the process of completing it,” she added.

Five regional medical hubs to promote medical tourism: Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday told the Lok Sabha that the government will establish five regional medical hubs to strengthen India’s position as a global destination for medical tourism.

Speaking during the Budget Session, Sitharaman said the proposed hubs aim to enhance healthcare infrastructure, attract international patients and generate employment in the health sector. The initiative is expected to integrate advanced medical facilities with streamlined services, positioning select regions as specialised centres for high-quality and affordable treatment.

‘The Centre has devolved 41% of taxes to states,’ says Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said the government’s effective capital expenditure, including that of states and Union Territories, would rise to ₹17.1 lakh crore in the current fiscal.

“On recommendation of state FMs, capital expenditure loans for 50 years has been increased to ₹2 lakh crore for SASKI. While Centre’s capex is at ₹12 lakh crore, in effect with states and UTs, it rises to ₹17.1 lakh crore as it is at 3%,” Sitharaman said in the Lok Sabha.

She also assured that the Centre has devolved 41% of taxes to states. “In the coming year, States share is estimated to be ₹25.44 lakh crore which will be devolved to them — an increase by ₹2.7 lakh crore from last year,” she said.

Sitharaman said AI would be introduced at all levels of education and stressed the need for girls’ hostels to promote STEM learning. She also invited members of the Nishad community to support Centres of Excellence by sharing traditional maritime knowledge.

Skilling to be integrated into education to create entrepreneurs: Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said the government aims to integrate skill development within the education system so that students graduate ready to become entrepreneurs.

“We have said that instead of waiting to qualify and finishing your education and coming out and seeking where should they go for acquiring skills, the skilling element can be brought into education itself,” Sitharaman said in the Lok Sabha.

“At the end of the day when they come out, students can say I can become entrepreneur and this kind of a mega centre can be kept next to any industrial cluster that any state has,” she added.

Sitharaman said such mega entrepreneurship-building centres could function as education hubs across states.

“These mega entrepreneurship building centres as education hubs can also be coming up from any state. We are willing to work with states so that this mammoth higher education centre can be propped up,” she said, adding that students could emerge as job creators rather than job seekers.

Hardeep Puri rejects Epstein claims, jibes at Rahul Gandhi over ‘elements of buffoonery’

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on February 11 rejected allegations made by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi linking him to the Epstein files, and took a swipe at the Congress leader during remarks to the media.

Rubbishing the claims, Puri said he met Jeffrey Epstein only as part of an International Peace Institute (IPI) delegation. He stated that he met Epstein “three or at max four times” and that the interactions had “nothing to do” with the crimes Epstein is accused of.

At a press conference, Puri accused Gandhi of having a “habit of making baseless allegations.” He contrasted leaders who work “round the clock” in public service and have helped India rise to the world’s fourth-largest economy with those who “travel abroad” and leave Parliament after speaking, adding, “You know the leader I am referring to.”

Recalling a Constitution Day protest where copies of the Constitution wrapped in cellophane were waved, Puri referred to “elements of buffoonery,” clarifying, “I did not call him a buffoon; I said elements of buffoonery.”

Centre reducing Tamil Nadu’s share, stalling projects: Thol Thirumaavalavan

VCK MP Dr. Thol Thirumaavalavan on Monday criticised the Union government over tax devolution and infrastructure allocations to Tamil Nadu, questioning what he described as discriminatory treatment.

“Inspite of States demanding that their share in devolution of taxes be upped to 50%, the Finance Commission has maintained it at 41%. As per that calculation, Tamil Nadu will get 4% and still Centre has reduced its share by ₹1,200 crore,” he said.

He alleged that key infrastructure projects had been stalled. “They have stalled metro projects in Coimbatore and Madurai and the airport project in Hosur. This is regrettable,” he said.

Claiming that Tamil Nadu has outperformed several other states, Thirumaavalavan said the Centre was not encouraging it. He further alleged that non-Hindi-speaking states were being “punished.”

He questioned whether the Centre did not want Tamil Nadu to develop and whether the state was being treated fairly within the Union.

‘Budget a reflection of New India,’ says Shrikant Shinde; jibes at Rahul Gandhi

Shiv Sena MP Dr. Shrikant Shinde on Monday described the Union Budget as a “reflection of New India,” saying it prioritises education, healthcare and job creation.

Targeting Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s speech in the Lok Sabha, Shinde remarked, “We can flash a disclaimer before his speech saying it is based on fiction and any resemblance is purely coincidental.” He also alleged that previous governments had “pressured the RBI to provide a rosy picture of the Indian economy rather than reality.”

Responding to Gandhi’s criticism of the India-US agreement, Shinde said, “Those whose political deal is getting cancelled in every state, they should first worry about their home, their country and then the world.”

He further claimed that the Opposition has lost elections 96 times in the past 12 years.

Piyush Goyal says farmers’ interests secured after Rahul Gandhi’s Budget criticism

Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday responded to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the Union Budget, in which the Congress MP questioned the government’s approach to farmers and alleged that key policy decisions were not in their interest.

“As the Commerce Minister, I want to assure that all decisions were taken keeping in mind the welfare of our farmers and their interests are secured,” Goyal said outside Parliament.