Jammu, Feb 11: Two soldiers including an officer were killed on Tuesday in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast during patrolling near the Line of Control (LoC) fence in J&K’s Akhnoor sector.

A Defence Ministry Spokesman said that the suspected improvised explosive device blast was reported in Lalaeli in the Akhnoor sector during a fence patrol resulting in two fatalities.

“Troops are dominating the area and search operations are underway. White Knight Corps salutes and pays tribute to the supreme sacrifice by two gallant soldiers,” said the Spokesperson.

He added that a captain rank officer is also among the two martyred soldiers.

“It was not immediately known whether the IED had been planted by the terrorists or was it due to the accidental stepping on an anti-infiltration landline planted by the army close to the LoC fence that resulted in the tragedy,” he said.

The Spokesperson said that last week, five terrorists were killed in a landmine explosion when they tried to infiltrate into the Indian side of the LoC in Rajouri district.

“One of the infiltrating terrorists stepped on an anti-infiltration landmine in the area close to the LoC fence. The landmine had exploded killing all the five Pakistani terrorists,” he said.

He further added that in another incident last week in Poonch district, terrorists from across the LoC fired at the patrolling soldiers after which the alert soldiers returned the fire thereby thwarting another infiltration attempt.

He said that Patrolling by the army near the LoC and by the security forces in the hinterland has been further intensified after a top-level security review meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah last week.

The Union Home Minister directed that the security forces should ensure zero infiltration and zero tolerance towards terrorists in J&K.

The Spokesperson said that there are reports that because of less snowfall this winter, all the infiltration routes of the terrorists are open and this has necessitated heightened vigil by the army deployed along the LoC.

New Delhi, Feb 11: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said “Skill India Mission” is just a hollow slogan, claiming that in the name of skilled workers, the government has pushed the youth towards becoming delivery persons.

Opposing the Union Budget 2025-26 during a discussion in Lok Sabha, the Kannauj MP said there is an absence of appropriated environment for investment that is the only key for true “Vikas”.

Raising issues like the drop in the country’s position in the hunger index and cut in the education budget, Yadav said the government is dreaming of making India the food basket of the world but it will remain to be ‘jumlebazi’ (hollow slogan) unless it first feeds the hungry in the country.

“The hunger index figures are exposing the hollow progress being claimed by the government,” he said, hitting out at the lack of efforts to control price rise.

He also slammed the Budget for not proposing measures to remove poverty, provide good education and health services and create jobs.

“There is no road map for progress in the Budget,” he said, alleging concentration of wealth in the hands of a few, the widening of disparity in society, the infringement of tribals’ rights and the crying need for reforms in the financial sector.

“Asli traqi hai wohi jo har farq mitati hai, jo har tarf khushhali ke gul failati hai (True progress is the one which brings about all-around prosperity and removes disparity), ” he said.

“Real development is the one which diminishes disparity, and an ideal Budget is the one which is democratic and paves the way for overall development and empowers the last person in line,” he said.

Slamming the poor performance of the economy, he said the government’s claim that the Budget is focused on pushing up the rate of progress exposes the fact that the rate of growth has been sluggish over the past 11 years due to lack of investment.

Yadav also decried the dependence of the Indian stock market on foreign investors’ investments.

He said the BJP government’s latest Budget has nothing to offer for the development of the country or for the progress of people.

“There is no special assistance or reference to MSMEs in the Budget,” said Yadav, saying most of such units are not benefitting from its schemes as only a fraction of them were registered with the government.

He also called for special schemes for farmers and waiving their loans, providing them MSP while taking measures to protect crops from stray cattle.

He also sought measures to stop fake news, alleging that the government was busy highlighting its achievement but, in the process, ending up defaming the rivals.

Yadav described demonetisation and the introduction of GST as the biggest economic disasters in the country.

He also cited the case of a boy who was born while his mother was standing in a bank during demonetisation and urged the government to adopt him. “We had named him khazanchi (treasurer) and he has now grown up to cycle around,” he said.

New Delhi, Feb 11: Maharashtra Congress leader Husain Dalwai on Tuesday emphasised the importance of unity within the INDIA bloc and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), warning that any break-up would weaken the Opposition’s fight against the current government.

His remarks come in response to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s announcement that her party, the Trinamool Congress, will contest the 2026 state Assembly elections independently, raising concerns about the solidarity of the Opposition coalition.

Speaking with IANS, Dalwai urged all parties within the INDIA bloc and the MVA to work together, especially as they oppose the ruling government at the Centre and in various states.

“It is not enough to only criticise the Congress. Yes, Kejriwal’s actions in Haryana and elsewhere should be examined, but we must also acknowledge that the Congress has always understood the need to collaborate with regional parties,” Dalwai stated.

Highlighting the history of regional party formations, Dalwai pointed out that Congress was unable to address the issues of backward communities, particularly the OBCs, which led to the rise of regional parties.

“Rahul Gandhi’s vision is to build a strong India that represents all sections of society,” he said. “In my opinion, the Maha Vikas Aghadi and the INDIA Bloc must stay united and fight against the current government at the Centre with greater strength,” he said.

Dalwai further reacted on the controversy surrounding Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s remarks about VIP darshan. He criticised the VIP facilities provided at religious events like the Kumbh Mela, where common people were left without proper amenities, leading to tragic incidents.

“The situation was dire, and people suffered due to the lack of basic facilities,” Dalwai asserted.

He called on CM Adityanath to accept responsibility for the failures, saying the common man deserves the same rights and respect as VIPs, especially when attending sacred events.

Turning to the ongoing controversy over comments made by Ranveer Allahbadia on ‘India’s Got Latent’, Dalwai strongly condemned the remarks. Describing the comments as vulgar and damaging, he criticised the lack of action from the Mumbai Police.

“Freedom of expression should not be used to spread filth or make inappropriate jokes,” Dalwai argued.

“There should be consequences for such behaviour. The show and its creators should be held accountable and banned, as should the YouTube channel that aired the episode,” he concluded.