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Former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan, who has publicly criticised the Narendra Modi government’s economic policies on occasions, recently made a special appearance on Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra and it is creating buzz. Ever since he joined Gandhi in his movement, BJP supporters have started targeting him for siding with Congress.

Hours after the padayatra, Gandhi also put out a video clip of his interaction with the former RBI governor in which Rajan is heard telling Rahul that his yatra for “communal harmony and unity is something that the country needs, regardless of what political party you are in”. They also talked about the deplorable condition of the Indian economy.

Ahead of the 2023 Meghalaya Assembly elections, the BJP on Wednesday (December 14, 2022) received a shot in the arm as four MLAs Ferlin Sangma, Samuel Sangma, Benedic Marak and HM Shangpliang joined the party. The four Meghalaya MLAs joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in the presence of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. 

While Ferlin Sangma and Benedic Marak were from the ruling NPP, HM Shangpliang was of the opposition TMC. The three MLAs had resigned from the Assembly and had quit the membership of their respective parties last month. 

Elections are scheduled to be held in Meghalaya early next year.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday claimed that he runs 50 per cent of the Congress in his state. Explaining further, Biswa said that many leaders in Congress are his friends and they come to him for advice. Speaking at India Today North East Townhall, Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "I have spent as many as 22 years in Congress. Therefore, even if I have joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) now, my relationship with them will not finish overnight. I have so many friends and young people whom I have brought into politics. They asked for my advice and I don't charge for it". 

Speaking about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra, Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "Don't you think that in any election you must talk about your principal opposition?  In Assam right now there is no election so why should we talk about Rahul Gandhi?" 

When famous singer and musician Adnan Sami decided to take Indian citizenship, many were surprised. He also told the reasons behind this through a post. He had tweeted that he would disclose what Pakistan had done to him. Similarly, Adnan has shared a video of the conflict between Indian and Chinese soldiers in Tawang. But he has clarified that he does not know where this video is from. In this video, which has gone viral on social media, it is claimed that it is a video of a clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers. After the incident in Tawang, this video of Indian and Chinese soldiers is being shared. 

The Ministry of Finance has reiterated RBI’s stand clarifying that there is no proposal for changes to the existing currency and banknotes.

Congress member Anto Antony had asked whether the government has received any request/representation to include more images (including the images of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha) in Indian currency notes

The Ministry of Finance responded in the affirmative that several requests have been received for inclusion of images of freedom fighters, eminent personalities, Gods and Goddesses, animals, etc. on Indian banknotes.