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India vs Bangladesh LIVE Scorecard | Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Rohit Sharma's Blunder Haunts India, No Wickets In 24 Overs | Cricket News

India vs Bangladesh LIVE Scorecard | Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Rohit Sharma's Blunder Haunts India, No Wickets In 24 Overs | Cricket News

by | Feb 20, 2025 | top-stories


ICC Champions Trophy 2025, IND vs BAN LIVE Updates© AFP




India vs Bangladesh LIVE Updates: Champions Trophy 2025: Bangladesh lost five wickets in the first 10 overs, as Axar Patel was denied a hattrick after Team India captain Rohit Sharma dropped a sitter in the slips, leaving teammates in shock as well. Mohammed Shami and Harshit Rana picked up a wicket each in the first two overs, before Shami got another. Hardik Pandya later dropped another catch. Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali rescued Bangladesh, taking them past 100, with India going wicketless for over 20 overs. This is the opening match for both teams, taking place in Dubai. India made two big calls with their playing XI, choosing to leave out mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy and pacer Arshdeep Singh, instead choosing the pace duo of Shami and Harshit. India enter the tournament as one of the favourites to go all the way. (LIVE SCORECARD)

India XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami.

Bangladesh XI: Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman.

ICC Champions Trophy 2025, India vs Bangladesh, Live Updates, Straight from Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai –







  • 16:40 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Both in the 40s

    Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali are both in the 40s now, heading towards half-centuries. This has turning into a tremendous rescue act.

    BAN 119/5 (32)

  • 16:35 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: How much can Bangladesh post?

    Towhid and Jaker have done a phenomenal job. Bangladesh were 35/5 after 8.3 overs, when Rohit Sharma dropped the sitter and denied Axar Patel a hattrick. Since then, India have not been able to pick up a single wicket. It has been more than 22 overs.

    BAN 112/5 (30.3 overs)

  • 16:31 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Top shot, 4!

    Brilliant straight drive. Full delivery, Jaker times it really well. 8 off the over.

    BAN 111/5 (30)

  • 16:30 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Harshit Rana back

    Now Rohit Sharma going for pace from both ends. Harshit Rana comes back in. Bangladesh’s run rate is under 4, so the sense of urgency in the Indian camp for a wicket is not that high yet.

    But Jaker and Towhid have done a superb job.

    BAN 106/5 (29.3)

  • 16:27 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: No wicket in over 20 overs

    Towhid and Jaker have now batted 20 overs, without India being able to strike. This is a big revival, given the state they were in at one point.

    BAN 103/5 (29)

  • 16:24 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: 100 up for Bangladesh!

    100 up for Bangladesh in the 29th over. Great effort by Towhid and Jaker to rescue them from 35/5 to this total.

    BAN 100/5 (28.1) 

  • 16:21 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Kuldeep continues

    Kuldeep Yadav to bowl his fifth over on the trot. 0-17 so far, can he get a wicket?

    BAN 98/5 (27.1)

  • 16:19 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Tidy over by Shami

    Jaker Ali and Towhid Hridoy continue to navigate things cautiously. Only 3 runs off Shami’s return over.

    Will we see Harshit or Hardik now?

    BAN 98/5 (27)

  • 16:16 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Rohit reintroduces pace!

    Mohammed Shami has been brought back into the attack. Two wickets in his first spell, can he break this partnership?

    BAN 95/5 (26.1)

  • 16:11 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Bangladesh nearing 100

    25 overs done. Jaker Ali and Towhid Hridoy taking Bangladesh close to 100 here. They’ve navigated the spinners cautiously, but well enough, and have held ground for over 15 overs.

    BAN 92/5 (25)

  • 16:07 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Spinners keeping things tight

    Indian spinners are doing a good job of keeping things tight. Bangladesh batters are not getting much scope to free their arms here. But will Rohit introduce some pace to try and get a breakthrough?

    BAN 86/5 (23)

  • 16:05 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: 50 PARTNERSHIP

    A big achievement for Bangladesh given the context of the match. 50-run partnership between Jaker Ali and Towhid Hridoy. It has come off 88 balls.

    BAN 85/5 (22.2)

  • 16:04 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Economical from Kuldeep

    A good return by Kuldeep. Just 1 run off his second over. The partnership continues to be slow but steady, and Bangladesh are at least getting towards something here.

    BAN 84/5 (22)

  • 15:59 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Another drop!

    Put down, again! Jaker Ali gets no timing, it was towards Hardik Pandya at mid-off, but the all-rounder fails to grab it properly. Second lifeline for Jaker, after Rohit Sharma’s dropped catch.

    Could these mistakes come back to bite India?

    BAN 79/5 (20)

  • 15:57 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Free hit, 4!

    Kuldeep Yadav bowls a no-ball, and Towhid Hridoy makes him pay on the free-hit. Finds the gap at mid-wicket, picks up a boundary.

    BAN 76/5 (19.2)

  • 15:55 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Here comes Kuldeep!

    The chinaman enters the action to bowl the 20th over. Finger spin to wrist spin, then. Can he break this partnership?

    BAN 71/5 (19.1)

  • 15:54 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: 10 overs without wicket

    Jaker Ali and Towhid Hridoy have held ground for more than 10 overs now. Much-needed sense of stability after the chaos of the first 10 overs. 

    BAN 70/5 (19)

  • 15:52 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Unique shot tried by Jaker

    Jaker tries to paddle scoop Ravindra Jadeja, gets the execution all wrong. The ball ricochets off towards the other side, and is lucky to not find a fielder. Just 1 run off Jadeja’s over.

    BAN 66/5 (18)

  • 15:50 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Maiden over

    Axar Patel now picks up a maiden over. 5-1-13-2. That’s how his figures read. Sensational stuff from the left-arm spinner.

    BAN 65/5 (17)

  • 15:45 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Action resumes

    Ravindra Jadeja continues with the ball. Can Bangladesh build on this partnership? Or can India keep the wickets flowing?

    BAN 63/5 (15.2)

  • 15:42 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: 15 overs done

    Axar Patel’s first slightly expensive over of the day. 7 off it. Jaker picked up a boundary there, well placed through third man. 15 overs up.

    BAN 62/5 (15)

  • 15:40 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Jaker-Hridoy settling in

    Jaker Ali and Towhid Hridoy are both into the double digits now. Slow, but steady. Bangladesh haven’t lost a wicket in more than 6 overs now. 

    BAN 57/5 (14.4)

  • 15:37 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Now Jadeja

    Hardik Pandya taken off the bowling attack after 2 overs. We’ll now have left-arm spinners in tandem. Ravindra Jadeja into the attack.

  • 15:36 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: No answer for Axar

    3 overs, 2 wickets, 5 runs conceded. Absolutely incredible stuff from Axar Patel so far.

    BAN 50/5 (13)

  • 15:33 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Welcome boundary

    Well-timed! Towhid Hridoy cuts hard, picks up 4! Places it well, between gully and point. 

    BAN 49/5 (12)

  • 15:31 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Absolute. Cinema.

    That over by Axar Patel was pure drama. Two wickets in two balls, carbon copy dismissals. Five fielders then set for the hattrick ball, but the Indian captain drops the chance. India wouldn’t mind it too much, they’re in the driving seat here.

    BAN 44/5 (11.3)

  • 15:27 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: 10 overs done

    10 overs done. Hardik Pandya closes out the powerplay. Wow. India wouldn’t have imagined such a start in their wildest dreams. Utter utter domination. 

    BAN 39/5 (10)

  • 15:25 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Rohit absolutely livid

    Rohit Sharma was absolutely livid on himself after that dropped chance. Banged the ground in anger. It was a sitter, make no mistake, and he put his hand up as well to apologize to Axar Patel. 

  • 15:22 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: ROHIT DROPS, no hattrick!

    Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear! Rohit Sharma had an easy, easy catch but drops it at slip! Axar Patel doesn’t get his hattrick. Rohit bangs the ground in fury, and then apologizes to Axar. 

    BAN 35/5 (8.4)

  • 15:21 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: OUT, AGAIN!

    Axar Patel is on a hattrick! Mushfiqur Rahim duck! Carbon copy, just reverse. Caught by KL Rahul once again. 

    Mushfiqur Rahim – OUT – c Rahul b Axar – 0(1)

    BAN 35/5 (8.3)

  • 15:15 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: OUT!

    Axar strikes, second ball! Tanzid departs. KL Rahul takes a superb catch, and celebrated straight away. Umpire Paul Reiffel took a good few seconds to raise his finger, but it ultimately went up. Bangladesh 4-down!

    Tanzid Hasan – OUT – c Rahul b Axar – 25(25)

    BAN 35/4 (8.2)

  • 15:14 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Change in attack!

     Spin for the first time today. Axar Patel brought into the attack, replacing Mohammed Shami.

    BAN 35/3 (8.1)

  • 15:12 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: 4 more, Tanzid!

    Fourth boundary for Tanzid Hasan. Comes down the track, this time against Harshit Rana. Clears mid-off, and the ball trickles over to the boundary rope.

    BAN 34/3 (7.4)

  • 15:09 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Close!

    Big appeal from Team India for a caught behind, but umpire says no. Replays show the ball brushed off the pad, without any edge. Towhid Hridoy the batter in question.

    BAN 27/3 (7.1)

  • 15:07 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: OUT!

    Mohammed Shami again! Beautiful teases the batter into playing a drive, Mehidy mistimes it and a crisp catch by Shubman Gill at slip. Mohammed Shami now just one strike away from 200 ODI wickets now.

    Mehidy Hasan Miraz – OUT – c Gill b Shami – 5(10)

    BAN 26/3 (6.3)

  • 15:03 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Great start by Harshit

    Harshit Rana has started superbly. A wicket, and just 7 runs given away in his three overs so far. Bangladesh have found some success against Shami, but no boundaries off Harshit yet.

    BAN 26/2 (6)

  • 14:57 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Glorious shot for 4

    Mehidy Hasan Miraz, sweet timing! Width offered by Shami, glorious drive through the covers. Second boundary of the over. All boundaries so far have come against Shami. The Bangladesh batters seem to be going after him here.

    BAN 22/2 (5)

  • 14:55 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Tanzid feasting

    Tanzid Hasan is taking the risks against Mohammed Shami here. Third boundary for the left-hander. Clears the in-field, takes the aerial route. Good shot.

    BAN 17/2 (4.2)

  • 14:52 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Nearly a run out!

    Mixup between the Bangladesh batters! Tanzid Hasan was halfway down the pitch, Mehidy sent him back. Shreyas Iyer with the throw from short square leg, and a direct hit would’ve sent Tanzid packing.

    IND 13/2 (4)

  • 14:49 (IST)

    Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Nearly onto the stumps!

    Tanzid trying to go big again, takes a big inside edge and so nearly dragged it back onto his stumps. A big deflection of his heel saves Tanzid.

    BAN 11/2 (3.2)

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All About Rekha Gupta, Who Will Be Delhi's Fourth Woman Chief Minister

All About Rekha Gupta, Who Will Be Delhi's Fourth Woman Chief Minister

by | Feb 19, 2025 | top-stories



Rekha Gupta, a former president of the Delhi University Students’ Union, is the fourth woman Chief Minister of Delhi, the BJP announced Wednesday evening, ending a nearly two-week suspense.

BJP’s Sushma Swaraj, Congress’ Sheila Dikshit, and Aam Aadmi Party’s Atishi have been other women chief ministers of Delhi. 

The 50-year-old, who is a first-time MLA from Shalimar Bagh, defeated AAP candidate Bandna Kumari by over 29,000 votes in the February 5 Assembly polls. Notably, Ms Gupta contested the Shalimar Bagh seat in both the 2015 and 2020 Delhi elections but was defeated by AAP’s Bandana Kumari in both years. 

Ms Gupta will take oath at a grand swearing-in ceremony at the city’s iconic Ramlila Maidan at noon tomorrow. 

“I express my heartfelt gratitude to all the top leadership for trusting me and entrusting me with the responsibility of the post of Chief Minister. This trust and support of yours has given me new energy and inspiration. I pledge that I will work with full honesty, integrity and dedication for the welfare, empowerment and overall development of every citizen of Delhi. I am fully committed to this important opportunity to take Delhi to new heights,” Ms Gupta posted in Hindi on X, shortly after the BJP made the big announcement. 

Born on July 19, 1974, in Nandgarh village of Jind district in Haryana, Rakha Gupta’s father served as a bank officer. In 1976, the family moved to neighbouring Delhi when she was just two years old.

As a student at Delhi University, Ms Gupta joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Her active involvement in student politics led to her election as the President of Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) for the 1996-1997 term. She also served as the Secretary of Dyal Singh College and was deeply engaged in student activism, which propelled her further into public life.

Rekha Gupta’s political career with the BJP began in the early 2000s. She joined the party’s youth wing, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), and held the role of secretary in the Delhi unit. Ms Gupta’s leadership skills were quickly recognised, and she was appointed the National Secretary of BJYM from 2004 to 2006. Her strong organisational abilities and dedication to the party’s mission helped her gain prominence within the BJP ranks.

In 2007, Ms Gupta was elected as a councillor in the MCD elections, representing the North Pitampura constituency. She went on to serve as the President of the Women’s Welfare and Child Development Committee in MCD from 2007 to 2009. 

She also held several other key positions, including General Secretary of the Delhi BJP Women’s Wing, and National Executive Member of the party.

The BJP returned to power in Delhi after 27 years, winning a two-thirds majority (48 seats), with the ruling AAP suffering major blows and a drastic reduction in its numbers in the 70-member assembly (22 seats). The Congress continued its dismal run as it failed to open its account for the third time in a row.

(With inputs from agencies)
 






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Is Elon Musk DOGE Employee? White House Clarifies His Role In Trump 2.0

Is Elon Musk DOGE Employee? White House Clarifies His Role In Trump 2.0

by | Feb 19, 2025 | top-stories




Washington:

 President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he will not let billionaire Elon Musk take part in any space-related government decisions, when the president was asked about Musk’s potential conflicts of interest amid his drive to cut government spending.

“So anything to do with possibly even space, we won’t let Elon partake in that,” Trump told reporters.

The White House has previously said Musk would excuse himself from any conflicts of interest between his various business interests and efforts to cut costs for the federal government via his Department of Government Efficiency.

The White House said on Monday that Musk’s role in the Trump administration was as a White House employee and senior adviser to the president, and that he was not an employee of DOGE. The White House also said Musk had no decision-making authority.

DOGE has swept through federal agencies since Trump began his second term as president last month and put Musk in charge of rooting out wasteful spending as part a dramatic overhaul of government that has included thousands of job cuts.

“Elon is, to me, a patriot. So you know, you could call him an employee, you could call him a consultant,” Trump said about Musk on Tuesday. “You could call him whatever you want, but he’s a patriot.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)




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“Dirt On Mind”: Supreme Court Relief, Scathing Rebuke For Ranveer Allahbadia

“Dirt On Mind”: Supreme Court Relief, Scathing Rebuke For Ranveer Allahbadia

by | Feb 18, 2025 | top-stories




New Delhi:

The Supreme Court has given YouTube personality Ranveer Allahbadia – roiled in a row over comments about parents and sex during an episode of stand-up show ‘India’s Got Latent‘ – a measure of relief after it said no further police cases could be filed against him on this matter.

The court also said Mr Allahbadia, who claimed death threats to his family and himself, he could approach Maharashtra and/or Assam police for “protection of life and liberty, in case of threats”.

He was also told he would not be arrested, by either Maharashtra or Assam cops, so long as he cooperates with the investigation, or on the basis of a third complaint filed in Jaipur.

Mr Allahbadia, however, was told to deposit his passport with police in Maharashtra’s Thane, and warned not to try and leave the country without the court’s nod. He was also told neither he nor his associates could participate in any further stand-up comedy or ‘roast’ shows till further notice.

The court also sought the centre’s response on guidelines for ‘obscene’ content on social media.

Court Rips Into Ranveer Allahbadia

On Tuesday morning a bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh convened to hear Ranveer Allahbadia’s plea to club FIRs and seek anticipatory bail against possible arrest by Guwahati Police, which last week sent a team to his apartment in Mumbai to question him.

The hearing began with Mr Allahbadia’s lawyer, Abhinav Chandrachud, the son of the previous Chief Justice, DY Chandrachud, in the court’s crosshairs over his position on the comments.

Mr Chandrachud declared himself “personally disgusted” by what Mr Allahbadia said; “I cannot defend on moral grounds,” he said, but also pointed out “… whether it (the comment in question) rises to the level of criminal offense is another question”.

The court, though, appeared initially disinclined to agree with Mr Chandrachud; Justice Kant was particularly irate, declaring, “If this is not obscenity in this country, then what is!?”

The hearing then turned into a fierce tongue-lashing for the Youtuber, aka ‘BeerBiceps guy’ on Instagram, with Justice Kant declaring “there is something dirty in his mind that is spread by this programme” and demanding to know “why should the court entertain such persons”.

“What embarrassment he has caused to his parents? We know from where he has copied the question. There are certain societies where they warn who are not supposed to watch such programmes… (referring to age-restrictions for TV programmes) they maintain precautions.”

READ | “Can’t take Society For Granted”: Court Raps Ranveer Allahbadia

“… but just because somebody thinks ‘I am popular, I can speak anything and take society for granted’ … you tell us, who in the world would like such words?” Justice Kant raged.

“The words you have chosen… parents will be ashamed, and sisters will be ashamed. The entire society will feel ashamed. The perversion you and your henchmen have exhibited!”

Eventually, though, the court also acknowledged the issue of death threats, saying, “We have a judicial system… we are bound by the rule of law. If there are threats, the law will take its course. We are not supporting this (the threats). I am sure the State will provide necessary protection…”

The court, finally, also accepted Mr Allahbadia’s submissions, giving him temporary protection from arrest and blocking further police cases against him.

Police Cases, Death Threats For ‘BeerBiceps Guy’

Ranveer Allahbadia faces not only multiple police cases but also a summons from the National Commission of Women (on March 6, after skipping one for Monday, citing the death threats and a Rs 5 lakh bounty on his head) and, possibly, questions from a parliamentary panel too.

Two others – show host Samay Raima and participant Apoorva Makhija – also reported threats; both are named in police cases, as has Ashish Chanchalani, another social media influencer.

On Saturday Mr Allahbadia confessed to feeling “scared” by the threats to his life but insisted he would not back down. “I am watching death threats pour in from people saying they want to kill me… hurt my family,” he said, also claiming an ‘invasion’ of his mother’s medical clinic.

READ | “Scared, But Not Running”: Ranveer Allahbadia’s New Post Amid Row

After he failed to appear before the cops, cops from Mumbai and Guwahati went looking for him at his home in the former city, only to find the door locked and the social media personality – whose requests to record his statement at his home had been turned down – missing.

READ | Mumbai, Assam Cops At Ranveer Allahbadia’s Home. But Door Is…

So far, the Mumbai cops, acting on a complaint from a BJP functionary, have recorded the statements of seven individuals; these include Ms Makhija and Mr Chanchalani. Separate investigations are being conducted by Guwahati Police and Maharashtra’s Cyber Department.

Mumbai Police has not filed a case so far.

Ranveer Allahbadia Apologises

After the row broke, Allahbadia offered an apology and blamed a lapse in judgement.

“My comment wasn’t just inappropriate… it was not even funny. Comedy is not my forte, I am just here to say sorry,” he said in a video message. He also acknowledged he had misused his platform. “I am not going to give any context or justification or reasoning behind whatever happened. I am just here for an apology. I personally had a lapse in judgement. It wasn’t cool on my part,” he said.

On Saturday, apologising again for his remarks, Mr Allahbadia said, “My remark about parents was insensitive and disrespectful and I am genuinely sorry”.

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In Rare Gesture, PM Modi Receives “Brother” Emir Of Qatar At Airport

In Rare Gesture, PM Modi Receives “Brother” Emir Of Qatar At Airport

by | Feb 17, 2025 | top-stories




New Delhi:

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, who arrived here on Monday on a two-day state visit to India, will meet President Droupadi Murmu and hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 18.

Extending a rare gesture of hospitality, PM Modi went to the airport to receive the Emir of Qatar, who arrived in Delhi in the evening.

“Went to the airport to welcome my brother, Amir of Qatar H H Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani. Wishing him a fruitful stay in India and looking forward to our meeting tomorrow,” the prime minister said in a post on X.

The Emir of Qatar’s visit will provide “further momentum to our growing multifaceted partnership”, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on Saturday.

The Emir of Qatar will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers, senior officials and business leaders, it said.

According to a media advisory issued by the MEA on Monday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will call on the Emir of Qatar later in the evening.

On Tuesday morning, the Emir of Qatar will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhawan, followed by his meeting with PM Modi at the Hyderabad House.

The talks between the two leaders will cover various aspects of the bilateral relations, the MEA said on Saturday.

An exchange of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, after which the Emir of Qatar will meet Murmu, according to the advisory.

The Emir of Qatar’s visit comes at the invitation of PM Modi. This would be his second state visit to India. He earlier visited India in March 2015, the MEA said.

India and Qatar have deep-rooted historical ties of friendship, trust and mutual respect. In recent years, the ties between the two countries, including in the areas of trade, investment, energy, technology, culture and people-to-people relations, have continued to strengthen.

The Indian community residing in Qatar forms the largest expatriate group in that country and is “appreciated for its positive contribution in the progress and development of Qatar”, the MEA said earlier.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)






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Assam Orders Probe Against Pak National “Linked” To Congress MP's Wife

Assam Orders Probe Against Pak National “Linked” To Congress MP's Wife

by | Feb 16, 2025 | top-stories




Guwahati:

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday ordered the registration of a case against a Pakistani national, who is believed to have links with Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi’s wife, for “trying to interfere in domestic matters” of the state and the country. 

Mr Sarma also said that Elizabeth Colburn, Mr Gogoi’s wife, will also be probed over her alleged links with Pakistan and its intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Besides, she will also be investigated over her alleged participation in the Lok Sabha election campaigns despite being a British citizen.

The erstwhile Kaliabor constituency was won by Mr Gogoi twice, from 2014 till 2024. 

The developments that took place during a cabinet meeting came a day after Mr Gogoi threatened to approach court over Mr Sarma and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s accusations against his wife. 

There was no immediate reaction from the Congress leader on Mr Sarma’s latest comment but earlier in the day, he said he does not want to get involved in “dirty and baseless” politics. He had also rejected the charges as “laughable and entertaining” in the past.

Addressing a press conference after the cabinet meeting, Mr Sarma said: “Multiple news reports, social media posts and other information in the public domain have surfaced regarding certain comments made by a Pakistan national, Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, aimed at disrupting communal harmony in Assam. Given the broader national security implications of this issue, particularly in Assam, the state cabinet has directed the DGP to register a case against Sheikh under appropriate provisions of the BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) and other relevant laws.” 

The Chief Minister also alleged that an assessment of Mr Sheikh’s social media activity and information available in the public domain shows he has been in contact with Ms Colburn.

“Apart from his engagements with Government of Pakistan, Ali Sheikh has also founded LEAD Pakistan, a non-profit organisation working in the field of climate change. Elizabeth Gogoi was an integral part of LEAD Pakistan during her time spent in Islamabad. Both Sheikh and Elizabeth Gogoi have been a part of global climate action group called the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) which operates in both India and Pakistan,” he said. 

In light of these facts and given the historical attempts of Pakistani state and non-state actors to destabilise Assam, the state government took Mr Sheikh’s attempts to interfere in the domestic matters of the state and India with utmost seriousness, he added. 

A controversy erupted on February 12 when BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia alleged that Ms Colburn shared ties with the ISI while she worked with the Climate and Knowledge Development Network in Islamabad under Mr Sheikh, a former advisor to the Planning Commission of Pakistan.

Mr Sarma, without naming Mr Gogoi, also raised similar accusations the same day, prompting a sharp retort from the Congress leader. He counter attacked with a movie reference. “If Salman Khan’s wife can be an ISI agent like in ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’, then I must be a RAW agent too,” Mr Gogoi said. 

On Saturday, Mr Sarma said a police case is likely to be registered and a Special Investigation Team be constituted to probe into the allegations against the opposition leader’s wife.

The Chief Minister alleged that after Ms Colburn married Mr Gogoi, Mr Sheikh must have gained access to the Chief Minister’s Office. 

He also alleged that Mr Gogoi’s visit to the Pakistan embassy has been confirmed. “In the Lok Sabha, the MP asked questions on nuclear radars, uranium mines in Meghalaya and other such sensitive matters. What was the need to know such things by an Assam MP? I hope he and his wife will cooperate in the probe, otherwise they will be summoned,” he said. 

Mr Sarma also alleged that Ms Colburn campaigned for her husband prior to two Lok Sabha elections in Kaliabor constituency.

“How could a British national take part in Indian elections? She was directly involved with the election process and we can see old TV clippings. That means she violated visa norms. If so, the Indian government should examine it and revoke her visa,” he said.

The Chief Minister said when he meets Union Home Minister Amit Shah the next time, he will discuss how the state government’s proactiveness can be synergised with central agencies.

It looks like Mr Gogoi is just an actor, and not the director, in the entire system, Mr Sarma said. “Maybe, he is trapped unintentionally. So, we will examine the matter with a sympathetic outlook. We don’t want to accuse him at this moment,” he said. 

“The way London, America and Islamabad are involved, he may be blackmailed also, who knows about it? Therefore, the entire subject requires serious deep investigation,” he added.

Mr Sarma said he will submit “all documents” to state Congress President Bhupen Borah, so that they can verify the facts themselves. “Perhaps, the Congress is unaware of the full picture,” he said. 

“When the case is investigated, I will write a letter to Borah to inform him about the background and the reasons behind our decision to pursue the matter. The letter I will give to the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and Home Minister (Amit Shah) will also be given to INC chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Borah. This is a matter of national security,” he said. 

Earlier in the day, Mr Gogoi said that instead of getting involved in “dirty and baseless” politics, the Congress is working on how to give a new economy, social order, education and health policy to Assam. “I have no objection to that if he (Mr Sarma) wants to spend the next 12 months like this only. I am grateful for that,” the Congress leader said.




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