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12:29 PM

BJP will come back with absolute majority in K'taka: Yediyurappa

Former Chief Minister and BJP's Central Parliamentary Board member B.S. Yediyurappa stated on Thursday that the party will come back to power with absolute majority in Karnataka, and the Congress will get only 60 to 70 seats.

Addressing a press conference at BJP headquarters in Bengaluru, Yediyurappa said that he had observed the predictions of media houses. "I have been in politics for 50 years. I worked at the grassroots levels and know the pulse of the people. Three surveys have been conducted in Karnataka and the results predicted 130 to 140 seats for the BJP," he explained.

11:59 AM

Govt exempts import duty on drugs for personal use to treat rare disease

The government has exempted basic customs duty on all drugs and food for special medical purposes imported for personal use for treatment of rare diseases.

 

The import duty waiver will come into effect from April 1.

11:29 AM

Protest in Kerala's Idukki over capture of rice eating tusker Arikomban

Protests broke out in several parts of this high range district on Thursday with locals taking to the roads and blocking traffic, aggrieved over the Kerala High Court's decision not to permit capture of 'Arikomban', a wild tusker, for the time being.

The High Court had on Wednesday constituted a five-member expert committee to take a decision on what action should be taken with regard to Arikomban, so named as it raids ration shops and houses for rice.

11:15 AM

HC quashes scribe's 2019 complaint against actor Salman Khan, bodyguard alleging misbehaviour

The Bombay High Court on Thursday quashed a 2019 complaint lodged against actor Salman Khan by a journalist alleging misbehaviour.

A single bench of Justice Bharati Dangre said the applications filed by Khan and his bodyguard Nawaz Shaikh are allowed.

10:59 AM

"Look forward to..., " Lalit Modi says will take Rahul Gandhi to court

IPL founder and ex-chairman Lalit Modi on Thursday in a series of acerbic tweets lashed out at Rahul Gandhi stating that he will take the Congress leader to court in the United Kingdom over allegations made by the "bag men" of the disqualified MP that he is a "fugitive of justice".

Rahul Gandhi earlier on March 23 was convicted by a Surat disctrict court and sentenced to two years imprisonment in a defamation case over his 'Modi surname' remark made in 2019 during an election rally in Karnataka.

10:40 AM

Non-cognisable offence registered against Karnataka Cong chief for "throwing money"

A non-cognisable offence has been registered by the police against the Karnataka Congress President D K Shivakumar following a complaint, which alleged that he distributed cash during a poll campaign.

The complainant alleged that the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President had "thrown money" at Bevinahalli village in Mandya Taluk on Tuesday, a day before the Election Commission announced the Karnataka Assembly election schedule.

10:17 AM

Mamata sits overnight in 'dharna' against Centre, raises political tempreture

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sat overnight in front of Dalit icon Dr BR Ambedkar's statue on Red Road in the heart of the city, surrounded by a cohort of TMC leaders and workers under television camera arclights.

The chief minister who is staging a two-day-long sit-in to protest alleged discrimination by the centre against the state, had Wednesday in a change of stance urged all political parties in the country to unitedly fight the BJP in next year's Lok Sabha election, in a departure from an earlier decision to remain equi-distant from both the Congress and the right-wing party ruling India's federal polity.

10:00 AM

Delhi govt to hold meeting amid spurt in COVID-19 cases

The Delhi government will hold a meeting on Thursday to review the COVID-19 situation in the national capital amid a spurt in cases, officials said.

The meeting has been called by Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj which will see the attendance of senior health department officials, medical directors of state-run hospitals and other stakeholders.

9:49 AM

Punjab govt has given 27,042 govt jobs to youth, says Bhagwant Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said 27,042 government jobs have been given to the youth during past one year.

 

"Idle hands (mind) are devil's workshop. So we are trying our best to ensure that maximum youth get jobs so that they do not fall prey to the social menaces," said the chief minister as he handed over job letters here during a function here.

 

9:31 AM

Let's oust BJP without thinking of who will be leader after polls: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday reiterated her Trinamool Congress's stand for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, saying that instead of thinking of who will be their leader after the polls, the prime object of the opposition parties in the nation will be to oust the BJP from power.

"There will be a game and we will also participate in that. In Uttar Pradesh, we will play the match jointly with (Samajwadi Party chief) Akhilesh Yadav. People from all religions will participate in this game to oust the BJP from power in 2024," she said during her sit-in agitation against the Centre over non-payment of dues, which will continue till 7 p.m. on Thursday

9:18 AM

Delhi govt launches drive to send overage vehicles for scrapping

The Delhi government on Wednesday kicked off a drive to send overage vehicles directly for scrapping.

 

The move is aimed at encouraging vehicles owner in Delhi to come forward and scrap their overage vehicles, said Transport Department officials.

9:02 AM

Rahul's LS disqualification will be a key issue in 2024 polls, says Chavan

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday said former INC president Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Lok Sabha will be one of the key issues to corner the Narendra Modi-led BJP government in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

 

Chavan said this here while addressing a press conference on the recent political developments following the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from the Lower House of Parliament.

8:56 AM

BJP seeks ideas from MPs for month-long celebration of 9 yrs of Modi govt

BJP have sought suggestions its MPs for a month long programme to celebrate completion of nine years of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.

According to a source, BJP MPs have been asked to submit a detailed plan - be it yatra, outreach programme, gathering or any other event they would like to do. The plan will be executed between May 15 and June 15. Details will be submitted to Prime Minister Modi and party President J.P. Nadda.

8:55 AM

World 'turning the tide' toward democracy, says US President Biden

Efforts to strengthen democracies around the globe are working and the world is turning the tide towards greater freedom, US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday as he sought to assure that democratic institutions work.

 

Addressing his second global summit on democracy, Biden also announced that the US intends to commit USD 9.5 billion to advance democracy around the world.