Arvind Kejriwal Challenges PM Modi to Fresh Delhi Polls After Court Relief
Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal has thrown down a bold political gauntlet, challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to call fresh elections in Delhi. In a dramatic statement, Kejriwal declared he would quit politics entirely if the Bharatiya Janata Party manages to secure more than 10 seats in such a poll.
This challenge comes in the wake of a significant court development in the alleged liquor scam case. Kejriwal pointed to a recent 600-page court order, asserting it found "not even an iota of evidence" to proceed with a trial. He has accused PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of orchestrating what he calls a political conspiracy against him and his party.
Kerala High Court Grants Temporary Relief for 'The Kerala Story 2'
In a notable legal development, the Kerala High Court has issued a stay for two weeks on a single-judge order that had halted the release of the controversial film 'The Kerala Story 2 – Goes Beyond'. The earlier ruling had expressed concerns about potential communal disharmony and raised questions about the Central Board of Film Certification's scrutiny process.
The division bench's intervention provides temporary relief to the filmmakers, though a detailed order outlining the full reasoning behind this decision is still awaited. This case highlights ongoing tensions between creative expression and social harmony in Indian cinema.
Pakistan Launches Airstrikes on Afghanistan as Tensions Escalate
Geopolitical tensions in South Asia have intensified dramatically as Pakistan conducted overnight airstrikes on multiple Afghan cities, including the capital Kabul and Kandahar. Initial reports indicate these strikes resulted in approximately 133 casualties.
Pakistan's military described the action as retaliation for cross-border firing incidents that allegedly killed 55 of its troops. In response, Afghanistan's Taliban government has called for dialogue and diplomatic resolution to de-escalate the situation, emphasizing the need for peaceful conflict resolution between the neighboring nations.
India's Economy Shows Robust Growth with 7.8% GDP Expansion
India's economic momentum remains strong with the latest data revealing 7.8% growth in real GDP during the October-December quarter of fiscal year 2025-26. This impressive figure comes from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, which has implemented a revised base year series using 2022-23 as the new reference point.
The growth drivers were primarily the manufacturing and services sectors, which showed significant expansion. For the full fiscal year, growth is projected at 7.6%, with nominal GDP rising by 8.6%. This performance underscores India's position as one of the world's fastest-growing major economies despite global headwinds.
Stock Markets Tumble Amid Foreign Outflows and Global Uncertainty
India's benchmark equity indices experienced substantial declines, with both the BSE Sensex and Nifty50 falling over 1% in trading. This marks the second consecutive day of losses for Indian markets, reflecting growing investor anxiety.
Several factors contributed to this downturn:
- Substantial foreign institutional investor selling totaling Rs 3,466 crore
- Weak global market cues, particularly from Wall Street where technology stocks led declines
- Rising geopolitical tensions in multiple regions creating uncertainty
- Specific pressure from a sharp fall in Nvidia shares affecting global tech sentiment
The combination of domestic outflows and international volatility has created a challenging environment for equity markets, with investors closely monitoring both economic indicators and geopolitical developments.
