Lok Sabha was adjourned minutes before the Prime Minister’s planned address after protests by opposition MPs intensified near the treasury benches. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari claimed several women opposition MPs entered the well and moved close to the Prime Minister’s chair despite appeals to return. “They climbed up to that area. They created a huge ruckus,” he said. Slogans were raised and banners were shown during the protest. A verbal clash also took place near BJP MP Nishikant Dubey. Ministers urged members to step back. Congress MP Deepender Hooda later asked both sides to return to their seats. Opposition leaders said the Prime Minister avoided the House. (PC: India Today)

A sharp exchange took place outside Parliament between Rahul Gandhi and Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu after Gandhi called his former aide a “traitor.” The incident happened when the two crossed paths near the complex. Gandhi pointed at Bittu and said, “Here is a traitor walking right by,” and added, “Don’t worry, you will come back,” while offering a handshake. Bittu refused. He later said the Congress believes it alone represents patriotism. He also accused the party and the Gandhi family of being “enemies of the country.” BJP leaders later addressed a press meet and criticised Gandhi’s remark as unacceptable. (PC: HT)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not deliver his planned reply to the Motion of Thanks in the Lok Sabha after repeated disruptions led to adjournments. Opposition protests continued over Rahul Gandhi’s demand to quote from former Army chief MM Naravane’s unpublished memoir. The situation worsened after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey began referring to books about the Gandhi family despite objections from the Chair. Protesting members raised slogans and the House was adjourned again. Rahul Gandhi later said, “PM Modi won’t come to Parliament because he is scared.” Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also claimed the Prime Minister avoided the House. Congress MPs also staged a protest outside Parliament. (PC: NDTV)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state caused severe stress and led to over 150 deaths. She said the deaths included a Booth Level Officer who faced pressure from officials. Arguing before a bench led by the Chief Justice, Banerjee said Bengal was being unfairly targeted before Assembly elections. She alleged large-scale deletion of voter names without proper appeals. She accused the Election Commission of India of ignoring her letters. The court issued notice to the poll body and sought its reply by February 10. (PC: X)

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said India secured the “best possible” trade deal with the United States under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, outperforming agreements by neighbouring and competing economies. He described the deal as a major diplomatic success achieved through months of negotiations, strengthening India’s global economic position and benefiting sectors like agriculture, dairy, MSMEs, IT, textiles and leather. Goyal also sharply criticised the Opposition, especially Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, for creating disruptions in the Lok Sabha amid the debate on the deal. (PC: India Today)

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission after a 90-minute meeting with CEC Gyanesh Kumar, alleging mass voter deletions during the Special Intensive Revision exercise. She accused the poll panel of acting as "BJP's IT cell," claiming 58 lakh voters were removed without hearings over minor spelling variations in Bengali surnames. Banerjee questioned why BJP-ruled Assam was exempt from SIR while Bengal, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu faced scrutiny. She alleged the CEC "misbehaved" and provided "garbage of lies," eventually walking out. The EC countered, citing TMC leaders' threatening language and vandalization of election offices, asserting rule of law would prevail. 

The Lok Sabha was adjourned after a heated exchange when Rahul Gandhi quoted from an unpublished memoir of former Army chief M. M. Naravane during his speech on the Motion of Thanks. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh objected and said, “The book has not been published. He cannot claim to quote from it.” Home Minister Amit Shah said unpublished material cannot be cited in the House. Speaker Om Birla supported the objection and cited parliamentary rules. Gandhi said a magazine report carried “100% genuine” excerpts. Opposition MPs protested as treasury benches demanded rule compliance. The House was adjourned after repeated disruptions. (PC: India Today)

The government rejected opposition criticism of Union Budget 2026 and asked for a debate based on “facts and figures”. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said allegations over market losses and scheme renaming lack substance. She said rural development spending has increased and allocations support welfare goals. Market weakness on Budget day was linked by officials to the higher securities transaction tax on futures and options trades. The renaming of the rural jobs scheme to Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj Abhiyan triggered political protests. Opposition leaders called it ideological. The government said the focus remains on delivery and funding, not labels or narratives. (PC: X)

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman outlined a three-duty framework as the main theme of Union Budget 2026 during her speech in Parliament. She said the government’s financial planning rests on three kartavya, or duties. The first is to accelerate and sustain economic growth by improving competitiveness. The second is to meet the aspirations of citizens. The third is to ensure every family, community and region gets access to resources and opportunities. Sitharaman said this approach needs a supportive ecosystem and described the budget as driven by youth power. This is her ninth consecutive budget under the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (PC: HT)

Sunetra Pawar on Friday took oath as Maharashtra’s first woman Deputy Chief Minister, days after the death of her husband and NCP leader Ajit Pawar in a plane crash. She was unanimously elected leader of the NCP Legislature Party earlier in the day. The proposal was sent to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and cleared by the Governor. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated her after the oath ceremony. Sharad Pawar said he was not aware of the decision in advance and clarified he is not directly involved in reunification talks. Party sources said the move was aimed at projecting Sunetra Pawar as Ajit Pawar’s political successor. (PC: X)