Highlights: BJP releases new list for LS; Kangana, Naveen Jindal nominated

From AAP's plans to launch protests across the capital to Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari complaining to EC against TMC, catch all the latest updates from around the world here

BJP released its new list of candidates on 111 more seats for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Actor Arun Govil, who played Lord Ram in popular TV serial Ramayan, fielded by BJP from Meerut Lok Sabha seat. Also, actress Kangana Ranaut and industrialist Naveen Jindal have also been fielded by the saffron party.


Leaders of the opposition alliance, INDIA bloc is planning to organise a 'mega rally' at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan on March 31 to protect the nation. AAP's Atishi Marlena said that the mega rally is being organised not to save CM Kejriwal but to protect democracy in the country.

Delhi minister and AAP leader Atishi Marlena started her press briefing by communicating Delhi CM Kejriwal's directions regarding water supply in Delhi. Even though he is in ED custody, CM Kejriwal is working and keeping a close eye on Delhi's well being, Atishi said.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has issued his first direction from ED custody on running the government. Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday from his official residence in connection with an excise policy-linked money-laundering case. A Delhi court on friday sent the AAP national convenor to ED's custody till March 28. Delhi government minister Atishi Marlena is likely to hold a press conference today where she will share the details of CM Kejriwal's order.

As Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) plans to launch city-wide protests in the national capital on Sunday, the Delhi Police has ramped up security measures. The development comes after the AAP decided to organise a candle march and burn the effigy of the BJP government against the arrest of party chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday. 

Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has written to the Election Commission claiming that there are several non-IPS officers in West Bengal holding positions designated only for IPS officers, including that of superintendents of police (SPs), PTI reported.

However, West Bengal police denied these claims, describing them as "false and misleading."

Adhikari is the leader of the opposition in the West Bengal assembly. He cited a press note from the Election Commission dated March 21, 2024, directing state governments to promptly transfer non-encadred officers from their current roles as SP/SSP and submit a compliance report.
 

7:28 PM

Cricket news: Mohd Amir comes out of retirement, announces availability for T20 World Cup

Controversial Pakistan left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir has decided to come out of international retirement and make himself available for selection for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the Americas in June. Amir, who was banned from cricket for five years between 2010 to 2015 on spot-fixing charges and was also briefly jailed for his crime, had retired in 2021 from all forms of international cricket. However, he has kept on playing in T20 leagues across the globe and now the new PCB regime under chairman Mohsin Naqvi has convinced him to take back his retirement. "I still dream to play for Pakistan! life brings us to the points where at times we have to reconsider our decisions. There has been few positive discussions between myself and the PCB where they respectfully made me feel that I was needed and can still play for Pakistan," Amir wrote on 'X'.

6:33 PM

Latest news: 4-year-old girl raped in Delhi by tuition teacher's brother; locals protest

A four-year-old girl was allegedly raped by brother of her tuition teacher in east Delhi's Pandav Nagar, sparking a protest in the area, police said on Sunday.

They said the alleged incident happened on Saturday and the victim has been referred to All All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)-Delhi from Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital. The victim's family members and scores of other people gathered outside the house of the accused in protest, demanding strict action against him.

6:08 PM

Latest news Live: IIT-Guwahati student arrested under UAPA for 'links with ISIS'

An IIT-Guwahati student who had allegedly pledged allegiance to ISIS was arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on Sunday, a senior official said here. The accused Touseef Ali Farooqui, who is a 4th-year student of Bioscience, was detained on Saturday. Assam Police's Special Task Force (STF) Inspector General Parthasarathi Mahanta told PTI that after interrogating him, police found credible evidence of his links with ISIS and he was arrested. "We produced him in the court, which has sent to police custody for 10 days. We also carried out a search in his hostel room inside the IIT-Guwahati campus," Mahanta said.

5:29 PM

Public sector banks' dividend payout may exceed Rs 15,000 cr in FY24: Report

Public sector banks (PSBs) are likely to pay a dividend in excess of Rs 15,000 crore for the financial year ending March 2024 on the back of improved profitability, according to sources. In the first three quarters of the current financial year, all 12 PSBs earned a total profit of Rs 98,000 crore, only Rs 7,000 crore less than the entire FY23, PTI reported. PSBs earned the highest-ever aggregate net profit of Rs 1.05 lakh crore during FY23 compared to Rs 66,539.98 crore earned in 2021-22. As a result, the government earned a dividend of Rs 13,804 crore, 58 per cent higher than the Rs 8,718 crore paid out in the previous financial year.

5:11 PM

LS polls: Congress workers sure Gandhis will contest from Amethi or Raebareli, says party's UP chief Ajay Rai

The Congress workers in Uttar Pradesh are "confident" that either former party president Rahul Gandhi or general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will contest the Lok Sabha elections from either Amethi or Raebareli, party state unit chief Ajay Rai said on Sunday. Rai's remarks come a day after the Congress released a list of nine candidates from UP, without naming the candidates for Amethi or Raebareli seats, which were considered family bastions of the Nehru-Gandhis. Rai, who has been given a ticket from Varanasi against Prime minister Narendra Modi, told PTI that the Congress workers have been constantly pressing on the party leadership to field Rahul Gandhi from Amethi and Priyanka Gandhi from Raebareli. "Though we are confident, one thing is certain that at least one of the two will contest the election on one of these two seats," Rai said.

4:30 PM

38 corporates donated Rs 2,004 crore to BJP via electoral bonds: Priyanka Gandhi

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday hit out at the BJP over the electoral bond scheme, saying never in the history of the country did any government gave legal validity to corruption. In a post on X, Priyanka alleged that 38 corporate groups donated Rs 2,004 crore to BJP through electoral bonds.

3:53 PM

FM Sitharaman dismisses K'taka govt's claim of injustice in release of central grants

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman dismissed the Karnataka government's assertion that the Centre was withholding its rightful share of special grants as suggested by the 15th Finance Commission. Sitharaman refuted any such recommendation by the Finance Commission and clarified that no special grant of Rs 5,495 crore, as claimed by the Karnataka government, was allocated to Karnataka. She emphasized that there was no mention of such a special grant in the Finance Commission's final report.

3:36 PM

Mumbai cricketers to get 100% pay raise from 2024-25 season

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) on Sunday agreed to give a 100 percent pay raise to its senior men's cricketers from the 2024-25 season, according to ESPNCricinfo. The decision was approved at the MCA's recent apex council meeting. It will effectively double a player's earnings through the season, as per ESPNCricinfo.

3:09 PM

Richest one percent enjoy 22.6% of national income: Kharge slams BJP

Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge reiterated the party's call for a nationwide caste census, emphasizing that the party intends to introduce an "Affirmative action policy" under "Participatory Justice" to initiate significant changes in the country. Kharge criticized the BJP in his post on X, elaborating on the rationale behind the introduction of "Participatory Justice" into the national conversation as the country approaches the Lok Sabha elections.

2:52 PM

Upset at police, Buduan boys' father sets bike on fire, attempts immolation

The father of the Budaun boys who were killed by a barber in their house set his bike on fire and tried to immolate himself too. The father is upset over the fact the police have yet not been able to ascertain the motive behind the attack.

 

2:50 PM

India has extremely affordable airfares, says Akasa Air CEO Vinay Dube

Indian aviation sector has "incredibly affordable" airfares and the country's aviation market has the kind of growth potential where Akasa Air as well as other carriers can do well, according to the nearly two-year-old airline's chief Vinay Dube.

 

2:47 PM

Maratha community should select LS candidates before Mar 30: Jarange

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Sunday appealed to the Maratha community to select candidates for contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha polls as independents before March 30. The Maratha community holds sway over 17-18 Lok Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra, he claimed

 

2:20 PM

Fire breaks out in Delhi's Narela area, 20 fire tenders on the spot

Fire broke out at a factory in Delhi's Narela area. 20 fire tenders present at the spot. Firefighting operations are underway. Further details are awaited.

 

2:13 PM

J-K's lithium reserves will be 'plundered', 'gifted' to companies by BJP govt: Mehbooba

PDP president and Jammu and Kashmir leader, Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday alleged that the lithium reserves in Jammu and Kashmir will be gifted to companies that will later donate a part of the "illicit proceeds" to the ruling party at the Centre.

 

1:47 PM

'Maha Rally' on 31st March not to save CM Kejriwal, but to save democracy: Atishi Marlena

Delhi Minister Atishi Marlena said, "INDIA alliance is organising a 'Maha Rally' in the Ramlila Maidan on 31 March. This is not being organised to save Arvind Kejriwal but to save the democracy. The opposition is facing one-sided attacks..."