Trouble is brewing for BJP’s Parvesh Verma after the Delhi Police filed a case against him on Wednesday regarding the distribution of shoes to voters. The Returning Officer for the New Delhi Assembly Constituency alerted the Station House Officer (SHO) Mandir Marg Police Station about this issue on January 15.

The controversy arose from the BJP candidate’s distribution of shoes at Valmiki Temple, just days before the assembly polls scheduled for February 5 in the national capital. The Returning Officer requested the SHO to register a First Information Report (FIR) and initiate an immediate investigation following a complaint against Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma.

A video shared by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on X showed Verma, the son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma and a two-term MP from West Delhi, placing shoes on elderly women’s feet and then seeking their blessings while his supporters chanted “Long live Parvesh Verma.”

In its post featuring the video, filmed at the Valmiki Temple near Mandir Marg in the New Delhi constituency, AAP stated, “Can’t the Election Commission see democracy being undermined? On one hand, BJP candidate Parvesh Verma is openly distributing shoes on the streets while posing for photos and videos. On the other hand, the District Election Officer remains silent. If the Election Commission does not take action against this blatant violation of the code of conduct, what does it mean for elections and the democratic process?”

Following a complaint filed by a lawyer, the Returning Officer for the New Delhi constituency sent a letter to Mandir Marg police station on Wednesday requesting the registration of an FIR against the BJP leader.

The Returning Officer noted, “According to Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, any gift, offer, or promise made by a candidate or their agent, or by any other person with the candidate’s or their election agent’s consent, constitutes corrupt practices.”

He added, “Consequently, I direct that an immediate investigation be conducted into this matter, appropriate action be taken for the violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), and that a report on the actions taken be submitted to me at the earliest.” In response to the Returning Officer’s letter, an FIR has now been registered against Verma.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russian forces launched over 40 missiles in a morning assault and deployed more than 70 drones overnight.

Ukrainian air defences successfully intercepted 30 missiles and 47 drones, according to the air force. Additionally, 27 drones were accounted for as “lost,” indicating that Kyiv utilized electronic warfare to redirect them.

“This is another massive Russian attack. It’s winter now, and the Russians continue to target our energy infrastructure,” Zelenskyy stated in a social media post on the platform X. “Their objectives included gas and energy facilities vital for sustaining normal life for our people.”

The capital, Kyiv, also faced attacks, with hundreds of residents seeking refuge in underground metro stations, sleeping on yoga mats and sitting on folding chairs alongside their pets.

The governor of Ukraine’s western Lviv region reported damage to two energy facilities in the Drohobych and Stryi districts. In neighbouring Ivano-Frankivsk, the governor noted that air defences were actively repelling Russian strikes on various facilities.

The air force confirmed that gas infrastructure in the Kharkiv region, located in northeastern Ukraine, was also under attack.

In response, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that its forces targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure and successfully hit all assigned objectives.

Zelenskyy, who is scheduled to visit neighbouring Poland on Wednesday, reiterated his appeals to Western allies for enhanced support for Ukraine’s air defence systems. “We have discussed obtaining licenses for the production of air defence systems and their missiles, which could provide effective security guarantees for Ukraine. This is both realistic and necessary to implement,” he emphasized.

Amidst the attacks, Ukraine’s national grid operator, Ukrenergo, informed emergency power outages in multiple regions following what it described as a “massive” Russian airstrike on its installations. Affected areas include Kharkiv, Sumy, Poltava, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kirovohrad.

In a separate statement, Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko indicated that “preventative measures” regarding the country’s energy distribution were also being enacted.

Earlier that morning, authorities issued a nationwide air alert, warning of incoming Russian cruise missiles. The Air Force advised residents of Kryvyi Rig to take cover, stating, “A missile from the south is headed in your direction!” It also warned of a “group of cruise missiles” approaching the capital, Kyiv.

Throughout nearly three years of conflict with Ukraine, Russia has consistently targeted energy infrastructure, particularly during the harsh winter months.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday expressed his disagreement with L&T chairman Subrahmanyan’s proposal for a 90-hour workweek, emphasising the principles advocated by Jawaharlal Nehru and BR Ambedkar regarding workers’ rights to an eight-hour workday.

He made these comments during a speech to party leaders following the inauguration of the Congress’ new headquarters at 9A, Kotla Road, Delhi, which was constructed by L&T. While thanking the company for their work, Kharge responded to Subrahmanyan’s suggestion with a touch of sarcasm, saying, “Some dues are also left from our side,” which elicited laughter from those present.

“I appreciate L&T construction, the architects, and the labourers involved in this project. However, I cannot agree with the CEO’s proposal for a 90-hour workweek,” Kharge stated.

He recalled the historical perspective of Nehru and Ambedkar while formulating the Factories Act, which established that workers should not be required to work more than eight hours a day, highlighting that a labourer becomes fatigued after eight hours of work.

Kharge also remembered past discussions about a 70-hour workweek initiated by former Infosys chairman Narayana Murthy, noting that there have been suggestions for longer hours since then. “While the L&T chief mentions 12 to 14 hours, I believe he should reconsider that stance. Nevertheless, I commend the company for their excellent work,” Kharge added.

Subrahmanyan’s controversial remarks, including his disappointment over not being able to schedule Sunday work for employees, have sparked debate about work-life balance. He said, “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you just sit there with your spouse? It’s time to come to the office and start working.”

In an undated video that circulated on social media, he further lamented, “I regret I cannot make you work on Sundays. If I could have you work on Sundays, I would be much happier because I work on Sundays.”