National News
Sonia slams Congress leaders for speaking to media
Addressing the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, interim President Sonia Gandhi on Saturday slammed party leaders for speaking to the media.
In her opening remarks, she said: “I have always appreciated frankness. There is no need to speak to me through the media. So let us all have a free and honest discussion. But what should get communicated outside the four walls of this room is the collective decision of the CWC.”
Sonia Gandhi’s statement comes after after senior party leader Kapil Sibal had recently said that “there is no president in our party, so we do not know who is taking all the decisions. We know it, yet we don’t know, one of my senior colleagues perhaps has written or is about to write to the interim president to immediately convene a CWC meeting so that a dialogue can be initiated”.
In her remarks on Saturday, she also said the party is ready for the internal elections.
“The entire organisation wants a revival of the Congress. But this requires unity and keeping the party’s interests paramount. Above all, it requires self-control and discipline. I am acutely conscious of the fact that I have been interim Congress President ever since the CWC asked me to return in this capacity in 2019. We had thereafter, you may recall, finalised a roadmap for electing a regular President by June 30, 2021.”
But due to the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic in the country, this deadline was extended indefinitely by the CWC in its meeting held on May 10, she added.
“Today is the occasion for bringing clarity once and for all. A schedule for the full-fledged organisational elections is before you.”
She also praised young leaders for taking over leadership role
“In the last two years, a large number of our colleagues, particularly the younger ones have taken on leadership roles in taking party policies and programmes to the people, whether it be the agitation of farmers, provision of relief during the pandemic, highlighting issues of concern to youth and women, atrocities on Dalits, Adivasis and minorities, price rise, and the destruction of the public sector. Never have we let issues of public importance and concern go unaddressed.”
Regarding the farmers protests, the Congress interim President said: “The shocking incidents at Lakhimpur Kheri betrays the mindset of the BJP, how it perceives the Kisan Andolan, how it has been dealing with this determined struggle by Kisans to protect their lives and livelihoods.
She said that the economy continues to be a cause of great concern in spite of the government propaganda and the only answer the Centre seems to have for the country’s economic recovery is selling off national assets built with great effort over the decades.
“The public sector has had not just strategic and economic objectives, it has had social goals as well, as, for instance, empowerment of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and development of backward areas. But all this is in jeopardy with the Modi government’s single-point agenda of ‘Becho, Becho, Becho’.”
She said that prices of essential commodities, including food and fuel continue to rise unabated.
“Could anyone in the country ever imagine that petrol prices would be over 100 Rs rupees a litre, diesel would be nearing the Rs 100 a litre mark, a gas cylinder would cost Rs 900 and cooking oil would be Rs 200 a litre. This is making life unbearable for people across the country.”
Sonia Gandhi also condemned the killings in Jammu and Kashmir and said minorities clearly have been targeted.
“This must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. We have done so and I do so again this morning. Jammu and Kashmir has been a Union Territory for two years. The entire responsibility for bringing the perpetrators of these barbaric crimes to justice is that of the Union government. Restoring social peace and harmony and confidence amongst the people in Jammu and Kashmir rests with the Modi government too.
“There has always been a broad consensus on foreign and neighbourhood policy in our country. But that consensus has been damaged because of the Prime Minister continued reluctance to take the Opposition into confidence in any meaningful manner. Foreign policy has become a diabolical instrument of electoral mobilisation and polarisation. We face serious challenges on our borders and on other fronts. The Prime Minister telling the opposition leaders last year that there had not been any occupation of our territory by China and his silence ever since is costing our nation dearly,” she added.
The Congress faces many challenges but, “if we are united, if we are disciplined and if we focus on the party’s interests alone, I am confident that we will do well”.
Crime
Mumbai Crime: Around 60 Silver & Gold-Studded Derby Trophies Worth ₹15.24 Lakh Stolen From Club Owner’s House; Domestic Help Booked

Mumbai: As many as 60 silver and gold-studded trophies valued at Rs 15.24 lakh, won by a club owner in Mumbai in various derby events, have allegedly been stolen from his residence by his domestic help, police said.
The Gamdevi police here have registered a case against the domestic help in connection with the theft, they said.
The thefts occurred between 2023 and November 2025 at a flat located in Westfield Estate Compound, Breach Candy in south Mumbai, an official said on Tuesday.
Shiven Surendranath (59), an advertisement film director and owner of the Royal Western India Turf Club Limited (RWITC) Club and the Diamond Band Racing Syndicate Pvt Ltd, recently filed a police complaint in this connection, he said.
The complainant had won various prominent derbies since 2006 and received silver and gold-studded trophies. He alleged that all those trophies were stolen by his domestic help, Rajendra Benudhar Jena (42), hailing from Odisha.
Jena was employed at Surendranath’s house for the past five years and had been staying there for the last six months, the police said.
On November 23, 2025, Jena told the complainant that he needed to travel to Kolkata for a couple of days for urgent work. He called five days later to say he was returning, but subsequently stopped answering calls, the official said.
After Jena failed to return and remained unreachable, Surendranath checked his collection of trophies and other valuables on January 2 and found that several items, valued at Rs 15.24 lakh, were missing.
He then approached the Gamdevi police station and lodged a complaint, based on which a case was registered against Jena on Sunday, the official said.
A probe was on into the case, he added.
Crime
Delhi demolition drive: BJP condemns stone-pelting incident, says officials followed HC order

New Delhi, Jan 7: BJP leaders on Wednesday strongly condemned the stone-pelting incident that took place during a demolition drive near a mosque in Old Delhi, asserting that the action was carried out strictly against encroachments in accordance with a High Court order.
They said those responsible for creating chaos and attacking security personnel must be dealt with firmly under the law.
The incident occurred near the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque in the Turkman Gate area, close to the Ramlila Ground, where the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) launched an anti-encroachment operation to remove unauthorised structures from land adjoining the mosque and nearby areas, in compliance with directions issued by the Delhi High Court on November 12, 2025.
As the demolition process began, a large number of local residents gathered outside the mosque, raising slogans and protesting against the action. The situation soon escalated when some members of the crowd attempted to breach police barricades and started pelting stones at security personnel deployed at the site.
Reacting to the incident, BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal told media, “I have been informed by the officials that this was a High Court order. The forces removed encroachments on government land. I am a resident of Old Delhi, and the people here are peace-loving. The removal was carried out strictly under the law and as per the High Court order.”
“The local police are investigating the matter, and based on CCTV footage, appropriate action will be taken. The police are monitoring the case,” he further said.
Minister Ashish Sood described the incident as unfortunate and said the demolition was carried out strictly under court directions.
“This is an unfortunate incident. Action was taken against commercial establishments near the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque strictly as per court orders, but some anti-social elements protested and resorted to stone-pelting, which is unacceptable,” Sood told reporters.
“The mosque remains completely safe, and the government has no role in the action, which is court-directed. Those involved in violence will face legal action, and people are urged to identify miscreants who incite such acts, as innocent youths ultimately suffer legal consequences,” he added.
Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa also underlined that the action was based on judicial orders.
“These are orders from the High Court, and the High Court’s orders are being implemented. However, those who are doing such activities are wrong, and the police must take action against them. Whether it is an order from the High Court or the Supreme Court, it is the duty of the police and the government to enforce it,” he said.
Speaking to Media, Delhi Assembly Deputy Speaker Mohan Singh Bisht said unauthorised encroachments must be removed irrespective of their nature.
“Certainly, action should be taken in cases where there is unauthorised encroachment, and such encroachments must be removed. If illegal constructions of mosques or wedding halls have been made in areas like the Ramlila Ground, the importance of the location must be respected, and such action should definitely be taken,” he said.
Minister Ravinder Indraj Singh said that any encroachment must be removed. “There is no question of caste, community, or religious sentiment in this matter. Anything that causes inconvenience to individuals or society should be addressed and removed,” he told Media.
Meanwhile, police have registered an FIR under sections related to rioting, assault on a government servant and obstruction of a public servant in the discharge of official duties.
The police said 10 individuals have been identified and detained, and searches are underway to trace others allegedly involved in the violence.
Further details in the case are awaited.
Business
Sensex, Nifty open lower amid tariff-related concerns

Mumbai, Jan 7: The Indian benchmark indices posted mild losses early on Wednesday amid rising geopolitical tensions and fresh tariff-related concerns, tracking mixed cues from Asian markets.
As of 9.30 am, Sensex slipped 156 points, or 0.18 per cent to 84,907 and Nifty eased 54 points, or 0.21 per cent to 26,124.
Main broad-cap indices showed clear divergence with benchmark indices, with the Nifty Midcap 100 up 0.22 per cent, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 gained 0.25 per cent.
Sectorally, Nifty Auto was the top loser down 0.49 per cent. Sectors such as consumer durables, IT and metal gained 1.15 per cent, 0.91 per cent and 0.53 per cent, respectively.
Immediate support lies at 26,000–26,050 zone, and resistance placed at 26,300–26,350 zone, market watchers said.
Analysts said that recent market movements have been devoid of any trend and clear direction with few mega stocks disproportionately affecting the market. Despite positive institutional buying, Nifty fell 71 points yesterday due to sharp declines in two stocks, they said.
These two stocks’ large derivative and cash market volumes indicated settlement day activity, which were technical rather than fundamental, they added.
Events and news may cause high volatility in the future with US President Donald Trump’s tweet or action remaining a key watch point. Investors also closely watch the US Supreme Court verdict on Trump tariffs. If the verdict goes against the reciprocal tariffs, it will create huge volatility in stock markets, market watchers said.
Asian region traded mixed with defence stocks snapping the two-day winning streak. Investors weighed in geopolitical risks after the US attack on Venezuela and renewed rhetoric over Greenland.
In Asian markets, China’s Shanghai index added 0.29 per cent, and Shenzhen gained 0.35 per cent, Japan’s Nikkei lost 0.64 per cent, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index shed 1.01 per cent. South Korea’s Kospi advanced 1.18 per cent.
The US markets were in the green zone overnight as Nasdaq added 0.65 per cent. The S&P 500 gained 0.62 per cent, and the Dow moved up 0.99 per cent.
On January 6, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold net equities worth Rs 106 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers of equities worth Rs 1,749 crore.
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