Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin announced that the state government will now present the annual 'Semmozhi Literary Awards' for outstanding literary works in Indian languages. He said this move comes after the Sahitya Akademi awards for this year remained unannounced due to the Centre's political interference and short-sightedness. He said, "Literature knows no boundaries; it's the bridge that connects us."

TN CM announces literary awards, blames Centre for Sahitya Akademi delays

Ahead of Assembly polls in West Bengal, PM Narendra Modi on Sunday said the state needs a double-engine BJP government for development. He added, "The people of West Bengal will punish the cruel TMC government in upcoming Assembly polls." PM Modi also said the TMC is ruining the future of Bengal’s youth and the education system is mired in corruption.

Bengal needs double-engine govt of BJP: PM Modi ahead of polls

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday demanded the "release" of Mumbai corporators allegedly confined at a hotel, calling it the "Taj Hotel Jail", and urged Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis to order their release. He alleged that Eknath Shinde had kept the newly elected corporators captive in the hotel, fearing defections ahead of the decision on the Mumbai mayor.

Shinde holding elected corporators captive in Taj Hotel Jail: Raut

Addressing a rally in West Bengal, PM Narendra Modi said people want to end TMC's 15 years of “Maha Jungle Raj”. "I want to serve the people of Bengal, but TMC government is preventing benefits of central schemes from reaching them,” PM added. He accused TMC of ruining the youth’s future and said the party must be ousted from power.

Want to end TMC's 15 years of 'Maha Jungle Raj': PM in West Bengal

An Indian fisherman died on January 16 in a jail in Pakistan's Karachi, despite completing his sentence in 2022 and having his Indian nationality verified, according to activists, FPJ reported. The death has renewed calls for the repatriation of Indian detainees in Pakistan. Activists say 198 Indian fishermen remain jailed and allege three to four die in Pakistani custody annually.

Indian fisherman, stuck in Pak jail despite completing sentence, dies

BJP leader and Karnataka LoP R Ashoka on Sunday alleged that the state government runs on "commission". He claimed money collected from liquor shops is sent to the Congress high command for elections. Ashoka said the excise department charges over ₹2 crore for licences and alleged ₹3,000–4,000 crore is being raised, demanding Excise Minister RB Timmapur's resignation.

Money collected from K'taka liquor shops goes to Congress leadership: BJP

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said Mumbai has "shown the mirror" to Deputy CM Eknath Shinde in the BMC polls. She added that the results highlighted the real Shiv Sena, with Shinde's faction winning 29 seats while the UBT-led Sena secured 65. Chaturvedi claimed Shinde appeared unhappy and must continue his alliance with the BJP.

Priyanka Chaturvedi says BMC results favour real Shiv Sena

After a 17-year-old NEET aspirant died in Patna, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav slammed the Bihar government led by CM Nitish Kumar, stating, "the funeral procession of Bihar's law and order has already taken place." Calling the Bihar government "insensitive", Tejashwi accused it of "perpetrating atrocities on minor girls, female students, daughters, and women across the entire state."

Funeral of law & order: Tejashwi on NEET student's death in Patna

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti responded to lyricist Javed Akhtar after he reportedly dismissed AR Rahman’s remark that communal reasons may have led to him getting less work. Mufti said Akhtar contradicted the lived realities of Indian Muslims, including his wife Shabana Azmi. Mufti added that Azmi "openly spoke about being denied housing for being Muslim in cosmopolitan city like Bombay."

Mehbooba Mufti slams Javed Akhtar for dismissing Rahman’s 'divisive' remark

SP Women Wing National President Juhie Singh on Sunday reacted to SP leader ST Hasan's remark blaming vulgarity on the internet for rising rapes. "Case must be registered against such people, and they should be expelled from the party if they hold such views about women," Juhie added. "Such people do not deserve to be people’s representatives," she stated.