India lifted 25 crore people out of poverty, says PM at Commonwealth Speakers’ Summit

Karnataka Minister G Parameshwara inspects the preparations for state-level Olympic Games.

The Supreme Court on Thursday heard the Enforcement Directorate’s petition against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for allegedly obstructing raids at I-PAC headquarters and director Pratik Jain’s residence. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta described the actions as a “shocking state of affairs,” claiming the CM and top police officials seized incriminating evidence and sat on dharnas during the searches. The ED has also sought suspension of West Bengal DGP Rajiv Kumar and other senior police officers, arguing their conduct undermined central probe efforts.

Addressing the Commonwealth Speakers’ and Presiding Officers’ Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said welfare-led governance and technology-driven delivery helped lift nearly 25 crore Indians out of poverty over the past decade.

The Enforcement Directorate has approached the Supreme Court seeking the suspension of West Bengal DGP Rajiv Kumar, accusing him and other senior police officials of obstructing its raids linked to I-PAC in Kolkata. The agency alleged Kumar joined Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s protest against the searches and sought disciplinary action through the Centre. The ED moved the apex court after the Calcutta High Court declined urgent relief, even as it later noted that no seizures were made during the raids and heard claims that files were taken away by the Chief Minister.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed “serious concern” over US President Donald Trump’s 25% tariff on countries trading with Iran, warning that combined sanctions could make Indian exports nonviable. He urged swift progress on the India-US trade deal, noting that only untaxed sectors like pharmaceuticals could sustain exports under such high levies. Tharoor also welcomed the Pax Silica announcement and emphasized the need for early resolution to maintain the strategic partnership.

United States Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Wednesday presented his credentials to President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, formally assuming office as the 27th US envoy to New Delhi. Gor said he looks forward to deepening cooperation between India and the US in areas such as defence, trade, technology and critical minerals, while strengthening ties between the two democracies.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan seeking urgent intervention to support Bengal gram farmers hit by falling prices during the harvest season. He warned that market rates have slipped well below the MSP of Rs 5,875 per quintal, pushing growers in key districts into a “severe and immediate crisis” and calling for prompt procurement under the price support scheme.

Amid a cold wave, dense fog shrouded the Delhi-NCR on Thursday morning. Temperature was recorded at around 5 degrees Celsius in the morning.