MP Evening Wrap:PM Modi calls France ‘special partner’; ‘Modiyabind’ jibe sparks sharp Congress–BJP exchange in Vidhan Sabha

Bhaskar English brings you the biggest news from Madhya Pradesh and around the world. Here are the top news headlines of the day:
1. Assam Assembly Elections likely in single phase Assembly elections in Assam are expected to be held in April, with polling for all 126 seats likely to take place in a single phase, according to media reports. The schedule is anticipated to be announced between March 4 and March 8, with voting possibly conducted in the first week of April. Read More 2. CBSE and MP Board exams begin, CCTV cameras and jammers installed to stop cheating In Madhya Pradesh, the English paper of the High School examination under the Board of Secondary Education is being held today, Tuesday. The exam began at 9 am and continued till 12 noon. For the first time this year, around nine lakh students appeared together in the examination. Read More 3. Supplementary Budget marked by uproar, ‘Modiyabind’ jibe sparks sharp Congress–BJP exchange The second day of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly’s Budget Session was held on January 17. Deputy CM and Finance Minister Jagdish Devda presented the third supplementary budget for the current financial year, amounting to ₹19,287.32 crore. The budget will be discussed in the House on February 23. The Economic Survey was also tabled during the session. Read More 4. Punjab CM said to be poisoned with polonium Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has received a bomb threat targeting the Fortis Hospital Mohali, where he is currently admitted. A threatening email, allegedly sent in the name of the Khalistan National Army, warned that the hospital would be blown up at 1:11 pm. However, the bomb threat turned out to be a hoax. Read More 5. Manager with ₹1.5 lakh salary calls himself peon, tries to avoid paying wife allowance A husband’s attempt to take advantage of the blindfold on the eyes of the law has proven costly. To avoid paying maintenance allowance to his wife, he told the court he was a bank peon, whereas he was an Assistant Manager at the bank. He wove such a web of poverty and helplessness that anyone would believe his words for a moment. This lie of his was exposed by information obtained through the Right to Information. Read More 6. ‘Sing Vande Mataram or leave’: BJP leader says in Chhindwara, ‘We will behead 10-10 Bangladeshis’ At a Hindu Garjana rally in Chhindwara, Bharatiya Janata Party MLA T. Raja Singh from Telangana made controversial remarks targeting Asaduddin Owaisi and Muslims, saying critics must chant Vande Mataram or leave. He warned of strong retaliation if attacked and demanded no legal action against supporters. Singh also called for violent reprisals against Bangladeshis and promised ₹50,000 rewards for beheading terrorists if BJP comes to power, sparking outrage and concern nationwide political debate. Read More 7. PM Modi calls France ‘special partner’, announces upgrade to special global strategic partnership Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday described France as India’s special partner as he, along with French President Emmanuel Macron, inaugurated the assembly line of the H-125 helicopters. Addressing a joint press conference in Mumbai, Modi said India and France will jointly manufacture helicopters in India capable of flying to extreme altitudes such as Mount Everest. He announced that the two countries have decided to elevate their ties to a Special Global Strategic Partnership. Read More 8. Gas cylinder explodes at Bhopal wedding reception A gas cylinder exploded during a wedding reception in Bhopal. The blast was so powerful that the sound was heard several kilometers away, while flames rose up to 50 feet high. The fire caused panic. People attending the wedding started running here and there. The incident occurred around 10 PM on Monday. Read More 9. Uttam Swami leaves ‘Katha’ after rape allegation, clip shows women pushed and water thrown during event A controversy broke out on February 15, the last day of a Shrimad Bhagwat Katha held in Hirapur Beka village near Jabalpur. People have alleged that workers of Katha narrator Uttam Swami misbehaved with women and threw water from the stage during the event. The issue came to light after a video of the incident went viral. It is also being pointed out that Uttam Swami is already facing rape allegations. Read More 10. Tarique Rahman takes oath as Bangladesh PM; 25 Cabinet and 24 State Ministers to join the govt In Bangladesh, Tarique Rahman, chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, was sworn in as the country’s new Prime Minister. The oath ceremony marked the formal formation of the new government. The administration will include 25 cabinet ministers and 24 ministers of state, including one Hindu minister. Read More