'Arvind Kejriwal ready to answer probe agency's questions if...': Delhi minister

An unidentified speaker has launched a scathing attack on the state Governor, accusing the office of acting as a 'puppet in the hands of the union government'. The speaker alleged that the Governor violated Sections 176 and 163 of the Constitution by refusing to read the speech prepared by the cabinet, opting instead to read only a single paragraph. 'The governor didn't read the speech given by the cabinet and he wanted to read his own speech,' the speaker stated, labeling the move as unethical and unconstitutional. The address also focused on the dilution of the MGNREGA scheme, referred to as 'Manreka', noting that the right to work and local panchayat powers have been abolished under new central tenets. The speaker confirmed that party MLAs and MLCs will launch state-wide protests until the 'anti-farmer' policies are repealed and the original employment guarantees are reinstated, asserting that the opposition is intentionally defending these changes due to a lack of freedom.

This special report covers the unprecedented scenes inside the Karnataka Assembly where the Governor staged a walkout. The incident occurred during the customary address at the beginning of the session, where the Governor is expected to read a speech prepared by the state government. According to the report, 'There's been a big controversy over the mention of the G. Ramji Bill in the speech of the Governor, which he refused to, in fact, read out as is customary.' The Governor reportedly refused to read the speech as drafted due to the inclusion of the G. Ramji Bill. While initial indications suggested he might only skip that specific portion, the Governor ultimately exited the floor of the house. The walkout was accompanied by chaos as BJP and JDS MLAs also left the assembly. The Chief Minister was seen addressing the press following the incident, which highlights a direct confrontation between the Governor and the state government in Karnataka.

On this Special Report, the focus is on the dramatic scenes unfolding in the Karnataka Assembly as Governor Thawarchand Gehlot walked out amid a heated controversy. The ruckus erupted over the Governor's decision to skip a portion of his speech related to the 'G. Ramji' law, which the state government reportedly linked to corruption. Speaking on the development, BJP leader G.S. Prashant stated, 'The courts have also interpreted Article 176 in a way to state that Governor has a right to delete or not delete relevant portions or such portions that do not deal with the policy of the Government.' Prashant accused the Congress-led government of attempting to use a constitutional head to make political allegations against the Centre. The programme examines the constitutional friction between the Governor's office and the state executive, highlighting the BJP's stance that the assembly should focus on legislative business rather than political propaganda.

On this Special Report from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu discusses India's global transformation and his vision for the state. Highlighting the shift from 1996 to the present, Naidu stated, 'Today, everybody is acknowledging, everybody is recognizing, and also everybody is saying this is India's time.' He detailed his transition from 'Ease of Doing Business' to 'Speed of Doing Business,' aiming to make Andhra Pradesh a global hub through cluster models in Visakhapatnam, Amaravati, and Tirupati. Naidu also shared his ambitious 'one family, one entrepreneur' goal and the upcoming AI Living Lab. The session, which included the unveiling of Business Today's 34th-anniversary edition, touched upon infrastructure projects like 20 new ports and airports. Naidu emphasized that strong leadership and technology, particularly AI, are the primary drivers for India's double-digit growth and its emergence as a global leader in the 21st century.