FirstUp: Farmers to take next step, BJP poll panel meet … Today’s news

It is the last day of February. With 2024 being a leap year, we got an extra 24 hours this month.

29 February will witness several big news developments. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to hold its first meeting of the central election committee for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Protesting farmers will decide their next course of action today after halting their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march last week.

Here’s this and much more that you can expect as the day unfolds.

Farmers to decide next step

Farmers protesting to press the Centre over their various demands will take a call on their next course of action.

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After pausing the agitation last week due to the death of a farmer during clashes with the police at the Punjab-Haryana border, the farm unions spearheading the stir will make announcements about their next steps today.

Protesting farmers have stayed put at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders.

Their main demands include a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP), the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, and a farm loan waiver.

BJP's central election panel meeting

The BJP’s central election committee meeting will be held under the chairmanship of party president JP Nadda.

The BJP sources told ANI that the party high command, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will attend the meeting. The saffron party could release the names of at least 100-120 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections after the huddle.

Top BJP leaders, including PM Narendra Modi, will attend the meeting. PTI File Photo

The top BJP brass is also expected to discuss seats that the party lost in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

PM Modi to inaugurate projects

PM Modi will virtually inaugurate two significant First Mile Connectivity Projects (FMC) of Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) worth Rs 1,393.69 crore.

Owned by the Coal India arm NCL, the projects located in Madhya Pradesh will boost coal supply and quality in an eco-friendly manner, the coal ministry said in a statement.

These two projects are Jayant OCP CHP-SILO and the Dudhichua OCP CHP-SILO. "The Jayant OCP CHP-SILO boasts a capacity of 15 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) and has been developed with an investment of Rs 723.50 Crore. Similarly, the Dudhichua OCP CHP-SILO, with a capacity of 10 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA), has been constructed with an investment of Rs. 670.19 Crore," the ministry's statement read.

These projects will slash coal transportation time and production costs, along with helping in reducing traffic congestion, accidents, and environmental impact, the ministry added.

Russian president’s Federal Assembly address

Russian president Vladimir Putin will make his annual address to the Federal Assembly today.

The Russian Constitution states the president "addresses the Federal Assembly with an annual report on the situation in the country, on the main directions of the state's domestic and foreign policy."

Russian president Vladimir Putin will make his annual address to the Federal Assembly on 29 February. Reuters File Photo

Putin is expected to lay down his evaluation of Russia’s current situation and sets tasks for the future.

The last address took place in February 2023, which was Putin’s 18th and Russia's 28th in its modern history.

Allahabad HC to hear Shahi Idgah mosque

The Allahabad High Court will continue to hear a plea challenging the maintainability of a suit seeking the removal of the Shahi Idgah mosque in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura.

A petition was filed by Bhagwan Shrikrishna Virajman claiming that the mosque was built on a 13.37-acre land that belongs to the Katra Keshav Dev temple. The suit has been challenged by the Shahi Idgah Intezamia Committee.

The counsel for the Muslim side, Taslima Aziz Ahmadi, has argued that a compromise was reached between the Srikrishna Janam Sewa Sangh and the Shahi Idgah Masjid Committee in 1968 in which the land where the mosque stands was given by the former to the latter.

She said that a court order passed in 1974 affirmed this pact. Ahmadi stated that the present suit is not maintainable as it violates the said compromise and the court order.

15th Bengaluru International Film Festival to begin

The 15th edition of the Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes) will kickstart today. The festival will continue till 7 March with screenings of 180 films across various categories at PVR Orion in Rajajinagar, Suchitra Academy, and Dr Rajkumar Bhavana.