Feb 10 News Live | No trust motion: LS Speaker decides to step aside from House

Congress to go ahead with no-trust motion against Speaker Birla

Congress MPs have decided to move ahead with submitting the motion of no-confidence against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. However, there is no clarity on how many INDIA bloc parties have agreed to back the motion. Earlier, Lok Sabha was adjourned till 12 noon after Congress MPs disrupted proceedings demanding that LoP Rahul Gandhi be given time to speak.

The notice has been submitted to Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh by Congress MPs K Suresh and Mohammed Jawed. The move comes after Rahul hinted evening at "an agreement" with the Centre that he be allowed to raise his issues in the House today and Opposition sources claiming the motion may not be moved if the Speaker allows the LoP to speak uninterrupted in the House. 

TN Cong leaders to meet Rahul Gandhi

Senior leaders of the TNCC and also the newly appointed district presidents will interact with the party leader Rahul Gandhi in the national capital on Tuesday, a senior leader said.

The meeting comes close on the heels of DMK deputy general secretary Kanimozhi calling on Rahul Gandhi in Delhi recently, and in the backdrop of a few voices in the Congress demanding a share in power.

However, TNCC chief K Selvaperunthagai made it clear that there was no rift in the ties with the DMK and that the alliance and seat-sharing will be decided by the Congress leadership.

The district presidents have been asked to visit Delhi for a training session. Rahul is likely to interact with them and the senior leaders from the state, a source said. During the meeting, Rahul is likely to obtain their views on alliance and seat-sharing, the senior leader added. 

Markets extend rally for third day on firm Asian peers, FII inflows

Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty extended their winning run for the third straight session on Tuesday, tracking positive trends in Asian markets and sustained foreign fund inflows.

The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 247.01 points, or 0.29 per cent, to 84,312.76 in early trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty rose 80.25 points, or 0.31 per cent, to 25,947.55.

Among the Sensex constituents, Eternal, Titan, Axis Bank, NTPC, Tata Consultancy Services, Sun Pharmaceuticals, PowerGrid, Maruti Suzuki India, Mahindra & Mahindra, Larsen & Toubro, Bharat Electronics Ltd, Reliance Industries, Bharti Airtel and Tata Steel were the gainers.

On the other hand, Bajaj Finance, HCL Technologies, Asian Paints, IndiGo, State Bank of India, and HDFC Bank were among the laggards.

Analysts said strength in US markets and optimism surrounding the interim trade framework between New Delhi and Washington are improving investors' sentiment.

In Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei 225 index, Hong Kong's Hang Seng, South Korea's Kospi were trading higher, while Shanghai’s SSE Composite index is trading flat.

Rupee falls 11 paise to 90.77 against US dollar in early trade

The rupee depreciated 11 paise to 90.77 against the US dollar in early trade on Tuesday as the currency market continues to price in caution rather than celebration, following the India-US interim trade framework.

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 90.63 against the US dollar, then lost some ground to touch 90.77, registering a loss of 11 paise over its previous close.

On Monday, the rupee witnessed a volatile trading session and settled for the day on a slightly lower note, down 1 paisa at 90.66 against the US dollar. Forex traders said at first glance, the India-US framework looked constructive. It avoided immediate disruptions, set a roadmap for negotiations, and reassured exporters that nothing would break overnight. But as the market dug deeper, the optimism began to fade.

"The agreement places India under ongoing US oversight, particularly around energy imports from Russia — a sensitive issue that leaves room for penalties to be reimposed at any time," CR Forex Advisors MD Amit Pabari said.

Silver slides 2%, gold dips as strong dollar and US data caution weigh on metals

Silver prices fell nearly 2% on Tuesday, February 10, while gold slipped over 1%, as the U.S. dollar rebounded from a more than one-week low. The decline reflected investor caution ahead of key U.S. employment and inflation data due later this week, which are expected to offer clearer cues on the future trajectory of interest rates. MCX silver declined 2.1% to ₹2,56,864 per kg, while gold recouped part of its earlier losses, with MCX gold climbing 2% to ₹1,56,001 per 10 grams.

ED to issue fresh summons to Tina Ambani

The Enforcement Directorate will soon issue fresh summons to Tina Ambani, wife of Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani, for questioning in a money laundering case, officials said on Tuesday.

Tina, 68, a former actor, was asked to depose by the federal agency here on Monday but she did not do so. She will be called again soon, the officials said. It is understood that she was called for questioning with regard to a money trail linked to the purchase of a luxury condominium in New York's Manhattan.

The ED had recently attested former RCOM (Reliance Communication) president Punit Garg in this case. The agency has recently constituted a SIT to probe multiple cases of alleged bank fraud and linked financial irregularities against the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) on the directions of the Supreme Court. 

Three militants held for 'involvement' in bomb explosion in Manipur

Three militants belonging to a proscribed outfit were arrested for their alleged involvement in a bomb explosion in Manipur's Imphal West district three days ago, police said on Tuesday.

They were apprehended from Imphal East and West districts, the police statement said. "Following an investigation into a case of bomb explosion at Lilong Chajing area in Imphal West district, three active cadres of the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (Apunba) were arrested from different locations of Imphal West and Imphal East districts during the last two days," it said.

A pistol and ammunition were recovered from their possession, the police said. Security forces have been conducting search operations in Manipur since May 2023, when the ethnic strife broke out between Meitei and Kuki-Zo groups. So far, more than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in the ethnic violence.

Haryana: Faridabad DCP (NIT) transferred after Surajkund mela tragedy

The Haryana government has transferred IPS officer Maqsood Ahmed, currently serving as Faridabad DCP (NIT), with immediate effect.

He has been posted as SP, Police Headquarters, Panchkula, according to the official orders. His transfer comes close on the heels of a swing collapse incident at the Surajkund fairgrounds in Faridabad, in which an on-duty police inspector died during rescue efforts, and 12 others were injured. Two people were arrested on Sunday in connection with the incident, even as the Opposition blamed the tragedy on the government's negligence.

In addition to the transfer orders of IPS officer, the state government also transferred Suresh Kumar, a Haryana Police Service officer. Kumar, at present DSP, 2nd battalion, India Reserve Battalion, Nuh, has been transferred and posted as DSP, Hodal (Palwal), against a vacant post. The transfer orders of both police officers were issued by the government on Monday. 

Karnataka Deputy CM Shivakumar to meet party leaders in Delhi

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar will go to New Delhi to meet party leaders on Tuesday. "I will be meeting the party leaders who have called me to Delhi. During the visit, I will also meet Union Water Resource Minister C R Patil and legal counsels as well," he told reporters in Bengaluru on Monday.

Asked if top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has called him to Delhi, Shivakumar said, "I can’t disclose names of all the people I will be meeting. Why are you so curious? I am not just the Deputy CM but also the Congress state president. I will complete six years as the KPCC President on March 10 and it is my duty to meet party MPs and party leaders." "I keep meeting my party leaders and share my difficulties, sorrows, joys and aspirations," Shivakumar added. 

Asked about his Delhi visit when his department pre-budget meetings are scheduled, the Deputy CM said he will seek Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's permission. He noted that the Chief Minister is also the Chairman of the Irrigation department. He said the officials will meet Siddaramaiah on Mekedatu balancing reservoir that has been proposed on the Cauvery river at the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu border.

Efforts on to publish final electoral roll in Bengal before Feb 28: CEO

The final electoral roll in West Bengal will not be published before February 21, while attempts are being made to release it by the end of this month, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Agarwal said.

The Supreme Court had on Monday extended the deadline for scrutiny of documents submitted by affected persons during the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral roll by one week beyond February 14, as this process is likely to take some time.

This process is to help electoral registration officers (EROs) make appropriate decisions. “The final voter list will not be published before February 21. We will try to publish it by February 28,” Agarwal said while briefing the media on Monday.

Giving an update on the revision process, he said that hearings have been completed in around 1.39 crore cases, while documents have been uploaded in nearly 1.06 crore cases. Agarwal also said that the state government has provided the names of 8,505 Group-B officers for election-related duties.