Author: Rasmita Jena

The local government has decided to extend the ban on selling, possessing, and consuming alcohol and non-vegetarian food in Katra. Katra is the starting point for pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir. This ban will now remain in place for an additional two months.

The prohibition will apply along the 12-kilometer path from Katra to the holy cave on the Trikuta hill and in nearby areas. It will be enforced by Katra’s sub-divisional magistrate, Piyush Dhotra, using local laws to keep the area peaceful and respectful for visitors.

The ban covers not only the track but also villages within 2 kilometers on both sides, including Arli, Hansali, and Matyal. It also applies to areas within 200 meters of the Katra-Tikri and Katra-Jammu roads and stretches along the Katra-Reasi road and Panthal-Domail road.

The Delhi election results show a big change: the BJP is back in power after 27 years. This happened because many people in Delhi voted against the leadership of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by Arvind Kejriwal, but they didn’t completely reject AAP’s ideas.

Kejriwal made this election about himself, and when he lost, it showed that people were not happy with him, even though AAP still got a lot of votes. The BJP showed everyone that they can adapt their strategy to connect local and national issues.

The Congress party also played a role, focusing more on defeating Kejriwal than on taking down the BJP, which helped create the situation. One big lesson from AAP’s loss is that politicians should not be too proud or too ambitious. Kejriwal’s popularity took a hit when issues like the liquor scandal and his expensive residence came to light. People felt he was not the anti-corruption champion they believed him to be. His strange accusations, like saying Haryana was poisoning Delhi’s water, didn’t help either.

The BJP focused on attracting the middle class, which is a large part of Delhi’s population. They also provided tax benefits, which increased their support. Delhi has unique features that make leaders feel confident. It gets a lot of attention as the national capital and has high revenues that allow for many benefits to voters. However, Kejriwal exploited these advantages too much. Instead of improving important areas like education and healthcare, he used Delhi’s funds for expensive promotions about himself in other states.

After his big win in 2015, Kejriwal began to think he could be Prime Minister and lost focus on his responsibilities in Delhi. He could have better used the city’s funds to actually improve it, but in the end, many of his policies relied on giving away free services rather than creating real change.

Kejriwal also lost support from allies, viewing himself as a national leader instead of focusing on his local government. The Congress party saw AAP as a threat to their position and worked to weaken them. Kejriwal now needs to reflect on his mistakes. If he does this, he can become a stronger politician. He needs to clearly show his plans and ideas beyond Delhi without just relying on giving away free services. AAP still has a brand that people recognize, but it spent too much trust this time.

For the BJP, the real challenge starts now. If any area needs good governance, it’s Delhi.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is getting ready to meet U.S. President Donald Trump next week. They will talk about how to lower import taxes and possibly buy more energy and defense equipment from the U.S. Modi will arrive in Washington on February 12 and meet with Trump on February 13.

Officials in India said they want to discuss taxes on U.S. products carefully since India had raised them back in 2019. Some items remain heavily taxed, though India has already removed some of the fees. India might also consider a limited trade agreement with the U.S. to improve access to markets.

Modi’s government has made some changes to please Trump, such as lowering taxes on luxury items like high-end motorbikes, which will help American businesses like Harley-Davidson. India is also preparing to send back migrants who stayed illegally in the U.S., responding to Trump’s request.

During his visit, Modi may also show interest in purchasing more defense products from the U.S., like fighter jets and drones. Currently, India is buying 31 drones worth about $4 billion and is looking to buy 114 fighter jets. There will also be discussions about advanced nuclear technology cooperation with the U.S., thanks to new rules that make it easier for U.S. companies to invest in Indian energy projects.

Before meeting Trump, Modi will first visit France on February 10 to meet with President Emmanuel Macron.

A LinkedIn post by Tabassum Hasan, a professional from Delhi, has sparked a lot of conversation. She shared how her friend made a bold choice to quit his job without having another job lined up. Many people were surprised and worried for him, thinking he might ruin his career by quitting in a tough job market.

In her post, Tabassum explained that her friend felt that staying in his job was a bigger risk. He said, “I was already losing… just slowly.” After he quit, things were tough. He didn’t have a steady income and wasn’t getting job offers. Despite these challenges, he spent his time learning new skills and applying for jobs.

Eventually, all his hard work paid off. He found a better job that paid more and had a healthier work environment. He’s now happy with his choice.

Tabassum pointed out that while quitting without a plan isn’t for everyone, sometimes the best choice is to let go of a toxic job. She advised anyone thinking of doing the same to build their skills and have 3-6 months of savings before making such a big decision. She concluded with a positive message: “If staying in your job is too hard on you, sometimes it’s okay to let go.”

Many people reacted to her post, with over 1,800 likes. Some users agreed with her, saying that being in a bad job can drain your energy. Others shared similar experiences, saying quitting was scary at first but turned out great for them. However, some users were worried about the risks of quitting without a safety net, reminding people that it’s not a choice everyone can make.

This discussion highlights how difficult career choices can be today, as some people focus on money while others say mental health matters more.