THURSDAY 08 JANUARY, 2026 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard VENEZUELA US SEIZES TWO MORE OIL TANKERS US has seized two sanctioned oil tankers linked to Venezuela in back-to-back actions in North Atlantic and the Caribbean, officials said on Wednesday PAGE 9 BENJAMIN NETANYAHU NARENDRA MODI MODI, NETANYAHU DISCUSS GAZA, TIES A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS  NEW DELHI  J8.00  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on phone, with the latter briefing him on the implementation of the Gaza peace plan. Both leaders reiterated their commitment to combating terrorism and strengthening the India-Israel strategic partnership | P7 PAGES 12 TENSION IN OLD CITY OVER DEMOLITION DRIVE POLICE SUSPECT SOCIAL MEDIA MISCHIEF THAT PROVOKED CROWDS TO GATHER MCD REMOVES ENCROACHMENT NEAR MOSQUE AT TURKMAN GATE WITH DELHI POLICE HELP How it happened N I T I N R AWAT @ New Delhi Tension mounts during a demolition drive carried out by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to remove unauthorised structures surrounding the 100-year-old Syed Faiz Elahi mosque near Turkman Gate on Wednesday night | SAYANTAN GHOSH & PARVEEN NEGI Verma said the demolition was done “pursuant to the directions of the Delhi High Court. The entire area was meticulously divided into nine zones, each placed under the supervision of an officer of the rank of Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police”, he said. He said coordination meetings were held with the Aman Committee members. “During the course of the demolition, a few miscreants attempted to create a disturbance by indulging in stone pelting. The situation was promptly brought un- der control through measured and minimal use of force,” Verma added further. Police said a case was registered under sections related to rioting, assault on public servants, disobedience of orders, joint liability and provisions of , the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. The arrested accused were identified as Kashif, Mohammad Kaif, Mohammad Areeb, Adnan, and Sameer. Further investigation is underway to identify others involved in the incident here. MORE REPORTS ON P3 POLICE FILE FIR, CLAIM LOCALS KNEW OF ACTION Police has filed an FIR and arrested 5 people and detained 10–15 others. It said locals were already informed that the work was being done as per a High Court order. MCD DEPLOYED MORE THAN 50 OFFICIALS More than 50 officials of Municipal Corporation of Delhi, accompanied by hundreds of police personnel were deployed for the operation. MCD also used 32 JCB machines in the operation. Economy to grow at 7.4% in FY26 despite tariff heat Govt’s first advance estimate says services sector will drive growth D I PA K M O N D A L @ New Delhi GROWTH PROJECTIONS 9.20% 6.50% 7.40% 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 8.0% 7.3% 7.60% INDIA’s economy is pressing ahead amid external challenges, including punitive US tariffs, with the GDP projected to grow at 7.4% in the current financial year (FY26), government data released on Wednesday showed. The first advance estimate by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) pe gged the GDP growth in FY26 at 7.4%, up from 6.5% in the previous year. It is also better than RBI’s estimate of 7.3%, indicating the economy has not only surmounted the obstacles to growth but also emerged stronger. The growth is propelled by the robust performance of the services sector, which saw a 9.1% growth in real gross value added (GVA). Within services, the financial, real estate & professional services and public administration, defence & other services segments recorded a remarkable 9.9% growth at constant prices, data showed. Industrial sectors also performed better than expected with the manufacturing GVA in real terms growing at 7%, higher than 4.5% in the previous year. The secondary sector, comprising manufacturing and construction, is estimated to grow at 6.6% compared to 6.1% in the previous year, indicating steady industrial activity . IN FAST LANE 2022-23 A fresh political controversy has erupted in Bihar following jewellery shop owners’ decision of not selling ornaments to customers with their faces covered, including hijab and naqabs. This happens to be first such decision by any traders’ association in the state. Though shop owners pleaded that the move was aimed at preventing crimes, opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) vehementally opposed, calling it unconstitutional and an attack on religious sentiments of people belonging to a particular community . RJD spokesperson Ezaz Ahmad said that the move hurt the religious sentiments of people and amounted to an attempt to curtail the fundamental right to religious freedom guaranteed under the Constitution. He blamed BJP-RSS for the decision. The RJD leader said that the decision would weaken the Constitutional and secular fabric of the country. “Government should immediately intervene and talk to the jewellery shop owners who have taken such a decision. There may other measures to check crimes,” he added. On Tuesday, the All India Jewellers and Goldsmith Federation (AIGJF) announced to ban customers whose faces are covered with hijab, burqas, scarves or helmet. 3 9.70% R A M A S H A N K A R @ Patna 2 Stone pelting begins at 12.40 am, after a crowd gathers to witness MCD action 2021-22 Jewellery shops ban clients with covered faces A little over 12 am on Wednesday, security arrangements were made in the area for court-ordered demolition drive 2020-21 BIHAR 1 -5.80% VIOLENCE erupted early Wednesday during a demolition drive that began overnight near the century-old Syed Faiz Elahi mosque at Ramlila Maidan in central Delhi, leaving five police personnel injured after a mob pelted stones at security forces. Police used force and tear gas to control the situation and maintain law and order. Officials said the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) was carrying out demolition on land adjoining the mosque and a nearby graveyard at Turkman Gate, following directions of the Delhi High Court. An FIR has been registered at Chandni Mahal police station. Five people have been arrested, and 10 to 15 others detained. A purported video circulating on social media showed a person asking residents to come out in large numbers and gather at Turkman Gate. Police said it is being examined. Additional Commissioner of Police (Central) Nidhin Valsan said MCD staff arrived with JCB machines late Tuesday night. “We also reached out and deployed security personnel. Local people of the area were called and explained to them that they had options available, including filing an appeal in court, against this court order,” he said. Valsan said around 150 people gathered, most of them curious. Police showed them the court order, after which many left. “Around 25 to 30 people pelted stones from the street. Police retaliated and had to use force. Five police personnel received minor injuries during the incident and were taken to the hospital,” he added. Joint Commissioner of Police (Central Range) Madhur 25–30 PEOPLE PELT POLICE PERSONNEL WITH STONES, INJURING FIVE OF THEM Real GDP is estimated at `201.9 lakh crore in FY26 against `187.97 lakh crore in FY25—a growth of 7.4% The primary sector—agriculture and mining—showed moderation, with growth at 2.7% in real GVA terms compared to 4.4% last year. On the expenditure side, private consumption is expected to grow at 7% compared to 7.2% in the previous year. Investment, as reflected in gross fixed capital formation, is estimated to rise 7.8% compared to 7.1%. “India’s growth momentum has sustained despite elevated global uncertainty due to tariff tensions, riding on accommodative monetary and fiscal policies, robust corporate balance sheets, and favourable developments such as above-normal monsoons and low crude oil prices,” said Dhar makirti Joshi, chief economist, Crisil. Meanwhile, nominal GDP is projected to grow at 8% in FY26, Nominal GDP growth in FY26 Projected real GVA growth Growth in the services sector estimated at 9.1% Real private final consumption expenditure expected to grow at 7% reaching `357.14 lakh crore. This is lower than the budget estimate of 10.1%. “The lower nominal GDP growth has implications for GoI’s gross tax revenues (GTR). In the first eight months of the current fiscal, the realised growth of GTR was 3.34%. The relatively lower nominal growth combined with a relatively lower than budgeted buoyancy of 1.07 over the revised estimates of 2024-25 may result in lower revenue in 202526 than the budget estimates,” said D K Srivastava, chief policy advisor, EY India. MoSPI said a revision of the national accounts base year from 2011-12 to 2022-23 is underway which may lead to updates , in subsequent estimates. The second advance estimates for FY26 will be released on February 27, 2026. VOICES Obstructing or disrupting work being carried out within the framework of law is completely unacceptable Ashish Sood, Home minister You’re firing tear gas shells, charging with sticks, & sending people to jail. They’re just doing Hindu-Muslim politics Amanatullah Khan, AAP MLA Police swiftly move in to control the situation. At around 12.45 am, crowd is made to disperse 4 Around 1 am, MCD begins demolition, which continues through the night. It ends at around 7 am, after which the civic body removes debris Turkman Gate: Med centre, community hall razed to ground such drives disrupt daily life. He underscored how the demolished dispensary played a sigRESIDENTS around Delhi’s nificant role in the lives of both Turkman Gate area faced a har- Hindu and Muslim residents as rowing time after the Munici- well as visitors. “One could pal Corporation of Delhi’s take a doctor’s appointment for (MCD) carried out demolition just `20-30, making it affordable drive on an illegal medical cen- for all,” he added talking about tre and a banquet hall in the the medical centre. early hours of Wednesday at While walking across the the Faiz-e-Ilahi mosque area. stretch towards the Delight The area in front of the Turk- Cinema, one could see a notaman Gate and also leading to bly silent sight at an otherwise the Delight Cinema was com- busy and honking stretch. pletely shut, with heavy police The guard standing in front presence enforcing traffic re- of the cinema hall said, “Even strictions and rerouting pethough the movies are running in the screens today , destrians. Many people gathered around the area, the footfall is less due curious to catch a to the traffic restricDELHI glimpse of the site aftions in the area.” Turkman ter demolition. The “All the offices in Gate Delhi Police personnel this stretch have been were seen rerouting even declared shut for today pedestrians from that area to and many employees of other roads and pathways, these offices, including those something that the residents of from the HDFC Bank here had the congested area are not ha- to go back in the morning,” he bitual of witnessing. further pointed out. Residents complained about “They were informed about considerable inconvenience, the office closure after they with many missing work due to reached work in the morning,” traffic blockades. “Many of us he added. had to miss our office due to the Additionally, the autorickextreme traffic and roadblocks shaw stand beside the cinema today a resident said. ,” hall was also seen idle. Drivers Though the demolition was were lined up on the stand but over in the early hours, the re- were unable to get a single ride moval of debris continued till since the morning due to heavy the evening on Wednesday . police presence. Another resident, Nadeem, Many residents complained who runs a tyre shop opposite of heavy barricading that was the mosque premises, said how not removed till the evening. A D I T I R AY C H O W D H U R Y @ New Delhi Unholy Maha micro pacts embarrass BJP, Cong S U D H I R S U R YA W A N S H I @ Mumbai UNHOLY micro level political alignments became a major talking point after Maharashtra’s recent local body polls, embarrassing the BJP and the Congress leaderships. At the Akot Nagar Parishad, the BJP joined hands with Owaisi’s AIMIM to cut the Congress and Prakash Ambedkar’s party out of the power matrix. In Ambernath, the BJP did a deal with the Congress to keep its NDA partner Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde out of power. In Ambarnath, Shinde’s Sena was the single largest party with 23 councilors, BJP followed with 14, Congress had 12 and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s NCP 4. Yet, BJP’s Tejshashree Karanjule got elected as president because of the opportunistic alliance called Ambarnath Vikas Aghadi. The local BJP unit defended it, saying it was against the corrupt Sena, which was running Ambarnath for 20 years. Akot, too, threw up a hung house with the BJP on 11, Congress 6, AIMIM 5 among others. The BJP formed the Akot Vikas Manch with the support of 23 councilors, including AIMIM. After public outcry, state BJP president Ravindra Chavan issued the show cause notice to its Akot unit. As for the Congress, it expelled its 12 corporators in Ambarnath and dissolved the local unit. EXPRESS READ Delhi Police lodges FIR over JNU sloganeering Delhi Police has registered an FIR under various sections of the BNS, over alleged sloganeering against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a protest on the JNU campus, an official said on Wednesday. Police said the case was registered after the JNU administration sought legal action. Astronauts on Moon by ’40: Ex-ISRO chief India plans to land its astronauts on the Moon by 2040, former ISRO chief A S Kiran Kumar said on Wednesday. Kumar, who is currently the chairman of the management council of the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), was speaking at the inauguration of the 5th Astronomical Society of India (ASI) Symposium. X reply on Grok dirt ‘inadequate’ EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ New Delhi THE Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is learnt to have found the response from X to its advisory over the spread of obscene and sexual content on its social media platform inadequate. The advisory had warned X about the misuse of its artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, which users are allegedly using to create sexual and obscene images of women and minors. X was given additional time till Wednesday 5 pm, to submit a detailed Action Taken Report. Agency reports said the reply was detailed but missed key information, including takedown details and specific action taken on the matter. The m i n i s t r y h a s n ow sought further details. On Sunday, X’s official “Safety” handle said the platform takes action against illegal content, including Child Sexual Abuse Material, by re- moving such content, permanently suspending accounts, and cooperating with local governments and law enforcement agencies when required. X also said that anyone who uses or prompts Grok to create illegal content will face the same consequences as users who upload such content directly On Janu. ary 2, the ministry had directed X to remove all vulgar, obscene, and unlawful content, especially generated through Grok.