LIVE: Fighting for voice of India, says Rahul Gandhi after losing MP status

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10:53 PM

Heavy rain in parts of Delhi

Parts of the national capital witnessed heavy rainfall on Friday night. The rainfall was reported in Laxmi Nagar, ITO, Mandi House, Jor Bagh, Lajpat Nagar and North Delhi. The national capital witnessed a drizzle during the daytime. The weather remained pleasant throughout the day with the sun peeking through the clouds for brief moments.

 

9:57 PM

Delhi logs 152 fresh COVID-19 cases, positivity rate rises to 6.66%

Delhi recorded 152 fresh coronavirus cases with a positivity rate of 6.66 per cent on Friday, according to data shared by the health department. It had logged 117 cases with a positivity rate of 4.95 per cent on Thursday.

 

9:57 PM

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra speaks on Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as MP

9:43 PM

Congress says it will launch 'Jan-Andolan' across country

"BJP is rattled by Bharat Jodo Yatra becoming a movement, Congress questioning on Adani issue. Congress welcomes statement of support of all opposition leaders, we should now take issue of opposition unity forward in systematic way," Jairam Ramesh said after Congress's strategy meeting.

 

9:29 PM

DA increased for central govt employees and pensioners

Cabinet decided to increase DA (Dearness Allowance) from 38% to 42% today for central government employees and pensioners.

 

9:09 PM

PWD razes stairs of under-construction Congress HQ in Delhi citing 'encroachment'

7:21 PM

PWD conducted anti-encroachment drive at under-construction new headquarter of Congress on DDU Marg in Delhi

7:15 PM

"Fighting for voice of India, ready to pay any price": Rahul Gandhi after disqualification as MP

3:26 PM

Modi govt can't digest Rahul Gandhi's popularity: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

2:59 PM

Govt to introduce GPS-based toll system in 6 months to replace toll plazas

The government will introduce new technologies including GPS-based toll collection systems in the next 6 months to replace existing highway toll plazas in the country, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said on Friday.

The move is aimed at reducing traffic congestion and charging motorists for the exact distance travelled on the highways, Gadkari said.

Addressing an event organised by industry body CII, Gadkari further said state- owned NHAI's toll revenue is currently Rs 40,000 crore and it is going to soar to Rs 1.40 lakh crore 2-3 years.

2:36 PM

India committed to end tuberculosis by 2025: PM Modi lauches TB-Mukt Panchayat initiative

Over the last nine years, public participation through initiatives like 'Ni-kshay Mitra' has played a very important role in the fight against tuberculosis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday.

The Prime Minister said this after launching TB-Mukt Panchayat initiative, the official pan-India rollout of a shorter preventive treatment and family-centric care model for TB and release of India's Annual TB Report 2023. The Prime Minister was addressing the 'One World TB Summit' in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

1:58 PM

Delhi Police detains opposition MPs who were protesting at Vijay Chowk

Delhi Police detains opposition MPs who were protesting at Vijay Chowk demanding JPC inquiry in Adani Group issue.

1:41 PM

Haryana police on alert after Amritpal's last location in Kurukshetra

Haryana Police Friday said it has stepped up vigil across the state and its personnel have been put on alert after radical preacher Amritpal Singh's last location was traced in the Kurukshetra district.

However, the whereabouts of Amritpal and his associate Papalpreet Singh remain unknown. They were allegedly harboured by a woman at her home in Kurukshetra district's Shahabad on March 19.

A senior Punjab police official on Thursday said, "As soon as we came to know that he has sneaked out of Punjab, we immediately alerted the other states."

1:25 PM

Can't blame all Gandhi surnames because Rahul insulted democracy: Rijiju

As Rahul Gandhi's conviction triggered a political slugfest, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday took a fresh dig at him saying one cannot blame all Gandhi surnames just because the Congress leader "insulted" Indian democracy, its armed forces and country's institutions.

Rahul Gandhi's conviction in a 2019 criminal defamation case by a Surat court has been slammed by opposition parties, including the AAP, which rallied behind the former Congress chief and accused the ruling party of "hatching a conspiracy to eliminate" its political opponents by prosecuting them.

1:04 PM

Law ought not to be set in motion to silence voices of Oppn: Chidambaram

Robust political discourse is the essence of democracy and the law ought not to be set in motion to silence leading voices of the Opposition, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said on Friday, a day after Rahul Gandhi was sentenced by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case.

The court in Surat sentenced Gandhi to two years jail in the case filed against him over his "Modi surname" remarks.

12:33 PM

RS adjourned till 2.30 pm amid uproar by ruling, opposition members

Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned in the pre-lunch session on Friday amid sloganeering by ruling BJP and opposition members over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's democracy remark and a demand for a probe into allegations against the Adani Group.

Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said the House is in "disorder from both sides" before adjourning the proceedings till 2.30 pm.

12:30 PM

Infiltration bid foiled in Jammu Kashmir's Karnah, one intruder killed

An unidentified intruder was killed by security forces during a foiled infiltration attempt along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district on Friday, officials said.

Alert troops noticed suspicious movement along the Line of Control at Jabdi in the Karnah area in the morning, the officials said.

The security forces challenged the intruders and, in the ensuing gunfight, one infiltrator was killed, they added.

12:09 PM

SC directs all convicts released during pandemic to surrender in 15 days

The Supreme Court on Friday directed that all convicts and undertrial prisoners, who were released during the COVID-19 pandemic in a move to decongest jails, to surrender within 15 days.

A bench of Justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar said undertrial prisoners, who were released on emergency bail during the pandemic, can move for regular bail before competent courts after their surrender.

11:34 AM

Pathetic and casteist mindset: J P Nadda slams Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on PM

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President JP Nadda on Friday attacked Rahul Gandhi over his "Modis are thieves" remark and alleged that by comparing OBC communities to thieves, Gandhi has shown a "pathetic and casteist mindset".

In a series of tweets, Nadda criticized Gandhi for his earlier remarks like "Chowkidar Chor Hai" and allegations of the Rafale scam. Nadda also alleged that Gandhi has always reduced levels of political discourse.

11:19 AM

Earthquake of 4.0 magnitude hits Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior

An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.0 on the Richter Scale hit 28km SE of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh today at 10:31 am IST, says National Centre for Seismology, the ANI reported.

 

 

11:10 AM

Fire breaks out at automobile batteries factory in Delhi, no casualties

A fire broke out in an automobile batteries factory in the Harsh Vihar police station area in Delhi on Thursday, said the police.

The incident happened near Madina Masjid Mandoli in Delhi's Harsh Vihar police station area, informed the police.

"A fire call was received at about 9.23 PM yesterday. 8 fire tenders were rushed to the spot immediately", said a fire official.

10:43 AM

India records 1,249 new Covid-19 infections, active cases rise to 7,927

India logged 1,249 new coronavirus cases, while the active cases have increased to 7,927, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.

The death toll has increased to 530,818 with one death each reported by Karnataka and Gujarat, the data updated at 8 am stated.

The daily positivity was recorded at 1.19 per cent while the weekly positivity was pegged at 1.14 per cent.

10:17 AM

Delhi: Heavy police force has been deployed at Vijay Chowk

Delhi: Heavy police force has been deployed at Vijay Chowk as Congress Party plans to organize a march to Vijay Chowk to protest against the verdict sentencing party MP Rahul Gandhi to two years in a defamation case.

9:46 AM

Suspected Iranian drone strike kills US contractor in Syria: Pentagon

A US contractor was killed and five US service members and one other US contractor were wounded when a suspected Iranian drone struck a facility on a coalition base in northeast Syria on Thursday, the Pentagon said.

In a statement released late Thursday, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said US Central Command forces retaliated with precision airstrikes against facilities in eastern Syria used by groups affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard.

9:18 AM

US nominee for World Bank prez Ajay Banga tests Covid positive; India meetings cancelled

US nominee for World Bank president Ajay Banga has tested COVID-19 following which the meetings scheduled during his two-day visit to India have been cancelled.

According to a Finance Ministry statement, Banga's meeting with Nirmala Sitharaman would not happen as he is in quarantine. "During routine testing, Ajay Banga tested positive for COVID-19 but remains asymptomatic. In adherence with local guidelines, he is quarantining in isolation," the statement said.

8:59 AM

Congress plans mass agitation, to meet Prez Murmu to discuss Rahul's conviction

The Congress has decided to take to the streets to protest Rahul Gandhi's conviction and will meet President Droupadi Murmu along with other parties.

The main opposition party announced a mass agitation on Thursday immediately after Rahul Gandhi was convicted by a Surat court in a defamation case and said it will not just fight the case legally but also politically.The Congress has decided to take to the streets to protest Rahul Gandhi's conviction and will meet President Droupadi Murmu along with other parties.

 

8:41 AM

Alert issued in Uttarakhand against Amritpal Singh

An alert has been issued in Dehradun, Haridwar, and Udhamsinghnagar districts of the Uttarakhand as a precaution in view of the possibility of pro-Khalisthan Amritpal Singh entering the state, the state's Director General of Police Ashok Kumar has said.

"An alert has been issued in Dehradun, Haridwar, and Udhamsinghnagar districts of the state as a precaution in view of the possibility of pro-Khalisthan Amritpal Singh entering the state," the DGP told ANI.

 

8:40 AM

Japan Airlines finalises order for 21 737-8 jets

Boeing has announced that Japan Airlines (JAL) has finalised an order for 21 737-8 jets.

JAL intends to begin introducing the airplanes into its fleet from 2026. The 737-8 will position JAL to strengthen its domestic and regional network as passenger traffic continues to return to pre-pandemic levels, according to the announcement.

8:26 AM

Congress calls urgent meeting of steering committee members, Kharge to preside

Congress has called an urgent meeting of its steering committee members, PCC presidents, CLP leaders and frontal organization chiefs at party headquarter in Delhi at 5 pm today. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge will preside over the meeting.

 

8:25 AM

Worst message from parliamentary democracy is approval to budget without discussion: Chidambaram

Senior Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram Friday said the "worst message" from a parliamentary democracy is approval to a budget without discussion.

His remarks came a day after the Lok Sabha approved the Union Budget envisaging an expenditure of around Rs 45 lakh crore for the fiscal year starting April 1 without any discussion.