THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY, 2026 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard SC ASKS CENTRE TO FILE REPORT ON AIR INDIA PLANE CRASH INVESTIGATION UKRAINE AID EU KEEPS €90 BN FOR TWO-YEAR HELP Probe by AAIB nearing end, govt tells court The EU parliament has approved a 90-billion-euro loan for Ukraine, providing a financial lifeline to cash-strapped Kyiv four years into Russia’s invasion A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS PAGE 9 PRESS INTAKE Govt taking steps to stop caste-based discrimination in univs: Minister | P7 All 6 stanzas of Vande Mataram must be sung before National Anthem, says MHA | P7 ‘Godman’ arrested in Peeragarhi deaths case | P3 Rajasthan, UP target youth, farmers in budgets | P8 Mamata only chief minister to move SC against govt staff: Bhupendra | P8 City air quality slips into ‘very poor’, AQI at 305 | P4 SUPERB TWO SUPER OVERS DECIDE AFGHAN-SA TIE The first tied match of T20 WC needed two overs after stunning display of pulsating comebacks by both teams. In the end, SA won by 4 runs I P11 Today’s matches 11 am: Sri Lanka vs Oman (Pallekele), 3 pm: Italy vs Nepal (Mumbai), 7 pm: India vs Namibia (New Delhi)  NEW DELHI UNION BUDGET DEBATE  J8.00  Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court that a fact-finding inquiry by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AAIB) is currently underway in accordance with international commitments and is likely to be completed in three weeks. The bench was hearing three petitions seeking an independent, court-monitored investigation into the crash | P7 PAGES 12 Police issue notice to Penguin over Naravane book ALL SET FOR THE BIG DAY States to get Bharat Mata over `25 lakh has been Hopes, apprehensions cr in FY27: FM sold: Rahul as B’desh goes to polls Election officials check ballot boxes and voting materials after collecting them ahead of polls, in Dhaka, on Wednesday | AP P U S H P I TA D E Y @ New Delhi P R E E T H A N A I R @ New Delhi FINANCE Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday rejected allegations levelled by several Opposition-ruled states that the Centre was not transferring states’ share from the divisible pool of taxes. The Union finance minister, in her reply to the Budget discussion in the Lok Sabha, said that the Centre has transferred the full 41% share of divisible taxes to the states as mandated by the Finance Commission. “The states should check if the entire net proceeds, which form the divisible pool, i.e., removing cess and surcharge from gross tax revenue, are received by them. There is no need to discuss the gross tax revenue,” the minister said. The finance minister said the Centre has allocated `25.44 lakh crore to states in FY27. “This much money will go to the states. This entails an increase of `2.70 lakh crore from FY26,” Sitharaman said. Commenting on the transfer of cess and surcharges, she clarified that these are collected for a purpose and if states can come up with proposals on health, education and roadways, they will get the funds. “Cess and surcharge collected by the Centre are given to the states for development work in various sectors. This is separate from the 41% of funds allocated to the states.” Debunking allegations that the government was not approving credits to the states, the finance minister stated the total credit has grown 13.8% in the current financial year. She pointed out that headline capital expenditure stands at `12.2 lakh crore while the effective capital expenditure, including grants to states, totals `17.1 lakh crore, amounting to 4.4% of the GDP . The FM said the government has envisaged a total expenditure of `53.47 lakh crore for the next financial year, up 7.7% from the current fiscal ending March 31. According to the revised estimate, the budget size for FY26 is `49.64 lakh crore. AFTER being repeatedly blocked from quoting ex-Army Chief General M M Naravane’s unpublished memoir in the Lok Sabha last week, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday mounted a sharp attack on the government over the India-US trade deal framework, accusing the Modi administration of having “sold off the nation” and terming it as a “wholesale surrender”. Participating in the debate on the Union Budget, Rahul said he does not believe that any Indian PM, including Narendra Modi, would agree to such a deal unless there is a “chokehold” on him. “Why has he sold India? Because the US are choking him. They have a grip on his neck.” Rahul asserted that the The govt has trade agreement had un- given up control dermined farmers’ inter- over digital trade ests, destroyed the textile rules, removed sector, and handed India’s data localisation, energy security to the US. allowed free flow Calling it a surrender of of data to the US, limited digital the future of 1.5 billion tax, waived Indians, he said it was source code driven by the need to prodisclosure, and tect the BJP’s financial offered 20-yr tax architecture, which he holidays to big tech firms said is facing scrutiny in the US. “The US will deRahul Gandhi cide who we buy oil from. They will monitor.” He accused the government of opening the door to mechanised American farms, thereby crushing India’s small farmers, and called the move disgraceful, saying that no PM before had done such a thing, nor would any after him. “How can you come to this House and defend this? Are you not ashamed of what you are giving away? Are you not ashamed of selling India? You have sold our mother — Bharat Mata?” he said. The House saw heated exchanges after Rahul referred to Union minister Hardeep Puri and industrialist Anil Ambani in connection with mentions in the Epstein files. HARD TALK 1 Lighting into LoP Rahul Gandhi, the FM said it was the UPA govt that “sold” the interests of farmers to the WTO 2 The FM also raised the 2009 Sharm el-Sheikh jt statement that diluted India’s position on sovereignty and security while dealing with Pakistan 3 Dismissing concerns over AI and data expressed by Rahul, the FM said the govt is incentivising setting up of cloud and data centres in India 4 CHARGES BASELESS: PURI On concerns expressed by Oppn over food security, the FM said `2.27 lakh cr has been allocated for food subsidy Dismissing Rahul’s allegations as baseless, Union minister Hardeep Puri said, “He has a habit of making baseless allegations and lying.” Puri said he had met Epstein only a few times as part of an official delegation and had exchanged just one email with him. He added that he had limited interactions with Epstein and had no connection whatsoever to the crimes later associated with him | P7 DMK boss Stalin rules out power sharing in TN, says alliance with Congress intact EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Chennai REJECTING the demand for a share in power from a section of Congress leaders in the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday asserted that there is no question of sharing power with allies, but the alliance with Congress would remain intact. “Power sharing with alliance partners won’t work in Tamil Nadu. We know that and they (Congress) also know that well,” he said. Stalin’s comments came a day after the party announced that it would begin seat-sharing talks with its “friendly parties” from February 22 for the Assembly polls. The Congress leadership had on Tuesday expressed disappointment over the DMK’s delay in beginning seat-sharing talks with alliance partners. Speaking at an interaction during a roundtable hosted by a television channel here on Wednesday Stalin said that his , equation with Rahul Gandhi was cordial. “As far as Rahul Gandhi is concerned, he sees me as an elder brother. I, too, regard him as a brother. I am saying this beyond politics. He considers me like a member of his own family, and I feel the same way about him.” On Centre-State relations, Stalin reiterated his charge that Tamil Nadu has not been receiving adequate funds from We will win together: Stalin on alliance To a question on whether the DMK-Congress alliance would fight the upcoming election together, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin said that the alliance would continue. “Definitely. It’s not like what others think. We are confident that we will win together,” he said the Union government. Exuding confidence about the DMK’s poll prospects, Stalin maintained that the ruling party would better its 2021 performance. To a question on whether he was seeking votes based on schemes implemented in the past five years, he said, “Definitely We are asking . for votes by highlighting our schemes. All our schemes have fully reached the people. Therefore, we will certainly win. There is no doubt about it.” On whether he was worried about his opponents and whom he considers as his main challenger, Stalin asserted, “No matter how many alliances they form, they cannot defeat the alliance led by the DMK. We are expecting 200 seats. In fact, I am confident we will win more than that.” When asked if he anticipated the upcoming election to be tougher than the 2021 polls, he replied, “No, we are definitely going to sweep. There is no doubt about it.” Definitely. We are asking for votes by highlighting our schemes. All our schemes have fully reached the people. Therefore, we will certainly win. There is no doubt M K Stalin EXPECTING 200 SEATS DMK chief M K Stalin said, “We are expecting 200 seats. In fact, I am confident we will win more” N I T I N R A W AT @ New Delhi B ANGLADESH heads to the polls previous elections, Jamaat’s support on Thursday under an unprece- hovered below 10%, while BNP sedented political landscape, follow- cured over 30%. ing the sudden exit of former With the Awami League out, many prime minister Sheikh Hasina af- believed BNP would secure a comfortter a mass upsurge in 2024. The election able majority. But Jamaat’s renewed is set to be a unique experience for vot- presence has complicated the electoral ers, many of whom will cast arithmetic, raising the prostheir ballots for the first time. pect of a close fight. Alongside electing members The NCP, despite leading of parliament, citizens will the anti-Hasina drive, has also vote in a referendum on struggled to maintain its moconstitutional reforms. mentum. It is contesting just The main contest is be30 out of 300 parliamentary tween the Bangladesh Naseats under its alliance with tionalist Party (BNP) and the BAYEZID MILKY Jamaat. In all, around 50 parBangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. ties are in the contest. Senior journalist The new National Citizen Voters will cast two balbased in Dhaka Party (NCP), which emerged lots—one for parliament and from the mass movement one for the referendum— against Hasina, joined the race as part while the absence of the Awami of an 11-party alliance with Jamaat. League has left many uncertain. The The BNP, a seasoned force with past Election Commission has warned stints in power, was expected to domi- counting may take longer due to dual nate in the absence of the Awami ballots and higher turnout. AuthoriLeague. However, Jamaat claims it has ties say the February 12 vote will shape built a strong base and is positioning Bangladesh’s future, and citizens hope itself as a formidable challenger. In for a fair and peaceful election. EXPRESS READ Magenta Line to be longest at 89 kms IAF to ‘simulate’ Operation Sindoor Sunetra meets PM amid unity talk The Magenta Line of the Delhi Metro network is all set to emerge as its longest corridor, featuring the highest number of interchange and underground stations. The total length of Magenta Line from Botanical Garden to Inderlok will be nearly 89 kilometres. It will function entirely as a driverless corridor once fully operational and have 21 interchange stations, up from the current four. P4 The Indian Air Force (IAF) will showcase its precision strike and air defence firepower later this month during Vayu Shakti exercise at the Pokhran near the Indo-Pakistan border. It will recreate elements of Operation Sindoor. The demonstrations will simulate the step-by-step execution of the real operation. The IAF played a central role in striking terror camps in the early hours of May 7. P7 Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Wednesday. She also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The meetings have come amid talk of a merger between the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Sources say if the reunion takes place, the united NCP may receive two cabinet berths at the Centre, one each for both factions. P8 THE Delhi Police issued a notice to Penguin Random House India on Wednesday, seeking clarification over the circulation of an unpublished book by former Army chief General M M Naravane. The move follows the Delhi Police registering a case in connection with the alleged leak or breach of the yet-to-beapproved memoir Four Stars of Destiny. The case has been registered under criminal conspiracy and other provisions of the law. According to police sources, the police took cognisance of information circulating on various social media platforms and online news forums regarding the availability of the unpublished manuscript. A senior police officer said a detailed notice has been served on Penguin Random House India Pvt. Ltd., seeking responses to a series of questions and clarifications regarding the matter. Relevant details regarding the case are being collected, and further investigation is underway . Police said that, upon verification, a PDF copy of a typeset book bearing the same title, apparently prepared by the publishing house, was accessible on certain websites. Additionally, some online marketing platforms had displayed the finished book cover as though the book was available for purchase. The controversy surrounding the book centres on events during the 2020 Indo-China military stand-off along the Line of Actual Control. A row erupted in Lok Sabha on February 2 after Rahul Gandhi attempted to quote from it. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, and other BJP members objected, arguing that references to an unpublished book should not be cited in the House. Judge moves SC against HC’s ‘adverse remarks’ S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi CHALLENGING adverse remarks made against him by the Delhi High Court while setting aside one of his divorce judgments, a Delhi judge has approached the Supreme Court. The matter arises from a judgment delivered by Harish Kumar, a family court judge at the Patiala House Courts. He had granted a divorce in a matrimonial dispute by treating cross-petitions seeking dissolution as deemed consent under Section 13(B) of the Hindu Marriage Act, instead of adjudicating them on contested grounds. The dispute reached the Delhi High Court in an appeal. The high court allowed the appeal, set aside the decree earlier passed by Judge Kumar, and made sharp remarks against him. On Wednesday, a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta agreed to examine whether the strictures were warranted. However, it refused to stay the critical remarks for the time being. “He was exercising Article 142 powers (conferred only on the Supreme Court) while sitting as a district judge,” the top court remarked while issuing notice on Kumar’s plea. The Supreme Court initially declined to intervene, but eventually agreed to examine the issue and issued notice. Declining to stay the high court’s critical remarks, the court observed that the high court had merely directed Kumar to undertake a refresher course. WHITE VALLEY A snow-covered garden in Tangmarg in J&K as valley received snowfall on Wednesday | PTI KAPURS STAY IN WAR MODE DESPITE HC TRUCE ADVICE U DAYA N K I S H O R E @ New Delhi LATE businessman Sunjay Kapur’s wife Priya Kapur moved the Delhi High Court on Wednesday, accusing her mother-in-law Rani Kapur of perjury and making false claims before the court. The application was filed before the court a day after Justice Mini Pushkarna suggested that all the parties involved in Sunjay’s estate dispute consider resolving the issue through mediation, since “a lot of dirty linen was being washed in the open”. The court issued notice to Rani, giving her four weeks to file a response. It also permitted Priya to file a rejoinder, if needed, within two weeks thereafter. In the complaint filed before the court, which is hearing Rani’s plea to dissolve the family trust, Priya claimed that Rani knowingly divested her shares into the RK Family Trust. Priya has sought dismissal of Rani’s plea, claiming that her mother-in-law had not only signed the RK Family Trust Deed, but had read and understood its contents and also signed the affidavit in the presence of a notary public. She also claimed that there was a video of Rani executing the “affidavit of truth”, dated March 19, 2024, in presence of the notary . During the hearing on Wednesday, Priya’s counsel said that several allegations made in Rani’s suit were “utterly false” and she made false statements under oath and played fraud upon the court.