Highlights: Bengaluru cafe blast case booked under UAPA, others by police

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11:21 PM

There should be smart villages, like smart cities: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari

There should not only be smart cities but also smart villages, Union Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Friday. Gadkari made the remark after he laid the foundation stone of 19 projects worth Rs 10,000 crore at a function organised on the campus of BRP Inter College in Jaunpur district. "Farmers should not only be food providers but also energy providers. Today my car runs on ethanol which is produced by farmers. Also there should be not only smart cities but also smart villages," he said. The minister said farmers should be debt-free and get fair prices for their crops. He said that when Narendra Modi became the prime minister in 2014, the total length of national highways in Uttar Pradesh was 7,343 km. "In 2024 this length will become 13,000 km." In Mirzapur, Gadkari laid foundation stones of a 15 km-long bypass, a bridge crossing Ganga, and approach road to be built at a combined cost of Rs 1,708.62 crore.

10:17 PM

Defence news: In a first, 4 IAF units to receive President's Standard and Colours

In a historic first, four units of the Indian Air Force will receive prestigious 'President's Standard and Colours' from President Droupadi Murmu at the Hindan air base on March 8. Murmu will be awarding the President's Standard to 45 Squadron and 221 Squadron and the President's Colours to 11 Base Repair Depot and 509 Signal unit, the defence ministry said. It will be the first time in history of the IAF that four units will be awarded President's Standard and Colours together, it said.

The award of the President's Standard and Colours is the highest military honour for any armed forces units. The four units selected for the coveted awards have stellar contributions in the IAF's history. The 221 squadron is known as the 'Valiants'. The history of the squadron dates back to 14 Feb 1963 when it was raised at Barrackpore, equipped with Vampire aircraft.

9:14 PM

Bengaluru cafe blast news: Case registered under UAPA, Explosive Substances Act, says police

The Karnataka Police said that they have registered a case under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 & Explosive Substances Act against the unidentified accused of the Bengaluru's Rameshwaram Cafe bomb blast case. 

9:04 PM

Bengaluru cafe blast: It was a low intensity blast, timer was fixed for it, says DK Shivakumar

It was a low intensity blast and timer was fixed for blast to happen after 1 hour, said Karnataka Deputy CM D K Shivakumar.

8:22 PM

Bengaluru cafe blast: Nine people injured in bomb blast at Rameshwaram Cafe, says Karnataka DGP

A bomb blast at a popular eatery in the city on Friday left nine persons injured and police have launched a probe from all angles after it emerged that an earlier suspected gas leak was not the cause of the explosion. Police suspect that a bag at the eatery with a possible improvised explosive device (IED) could have exploded, even as the NIA and the IB have been apprised of the matter. Officials from the local unit of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) later arrived at the spot. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said investigation is on to ascertain the cause and nature of the explosion at the popular Rameshwaram Cafe in Whitefiled, and added it might have been caused by an "improvised explosive" device. The incident should not be politicised and everyone should cooperate, Siddaramaiah said, adding strict action would be taken against those involved. State police chief Alok Mohan described the explosion as a "bomb blast" and said nobody was seriously injured.

 

7:29 PM

Business news: FIU fines Paytm Payments Bank of Rs 5.49 cr under anti-money laundering law

Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) has imposed a Rs 5.49 crore penalty on Paytm Payments Bank for violating anti-money laundering rules, the Finance Ministry said on Friday. FIU-IND initiated a review of Paytm Payments Bank on receipt of specific information from law enforcement agencies in respect of few entities and their network of businesses engaged in a number of illegal acts, including organising and facilitating online gambling, PTI reported. The money generated from these illegal operations, i.e. proceeds of crime were routed and channelled through bank accounts maintained by these entities with the Paytm Payments Bank Ltd, the ministry said.

7:28 PM

Lok Sabha elections: EC might be making strategy to stop Samajwadis in UP, says Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday suggested that the Election Commission might be strategising to defeat his party. The SP leader made the remark when asked by reporters to comment on the current visit of an Election Commission (EC) delegation to Lucknow to assess poll preparedness. "Ho sakta hai ki ranniti bana rahein ho ki Samajwadion ko kaise rokein (Maybe they are making a strategy on how to stop the Samajwadis)," he said. "The commission might be making this strategy, who knows," Yadav added. The SP chief also hit out at the BJP, saying it betrayed farmers and pushed the future of youngsters into darkness.

6:54 PM

Bengaluru cafe blast live: Investigations are on to ascertain cause, nature of explosion, says CM Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said investigations are on to ascertain the cause and nature of the explosion at popular eatery Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru on Friday, and added that it might have been caused by an "improvised explosive device". He said those involved will be found and strict action will be taken against them.

6:05 PM

Temples, mosques, gurdwaras or other places of worship should not be used for election propaganda: EC advisory

In advisory ahead of Lok Sabha polls, Election Commission (EC) has asked parties, leaders not to make statements without factual basis, mislead voters. Also, the EC has asked parties, candidates, star campaigners not to make appeal on basis of caste, religion, language. It further stated that temples, mosques, churches, gurdwaras or other places of worship should not be used for election propaganda or electioneering.

5:58 PM

Ahead of LS polls, EC warns parties of stern action against direct, indirect violation of Code of Conduct

Ahead of Lok Sabha polls, Election Commission warns parties of stern action against direct, indirect violation of Model Code of Conduct, PTI reported. 

5:50 PM

Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya to hold talks with Kharge in Delhi, meets party rebels in Panchkula

Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya Singh met the state's six disqualified Congress MLAs in Haryana's Panchkula on his way to Delhi on Friday when he was also scheduled to hold talks with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, PTI reported. Talking to the media persons here, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said Vikramaditya Singh informed him on Thursday that some of the Congress rebels had approached him and wished to come back. "I told Vikramaditya Singh to talk to these rebels MLAs and the Congress central leadership," the chief minister said, adding that the family members of these rebel MLAs were talking to them and they want to be in the Congress.

5:26 PM

Tripura finance minister tables 2024-25 Budget worth Rs 27,804 crore in state Assembly

Tripura Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy on Friday presented a Rs 27,804.67-crore budget for the 2024-25 fiscal, and asserted that the government is focused on infrastructure building to generate more job opportunities in the northeastern state. Roy said Rs 6,633.80 crore has been earmarked for capital expenditure, while Rs 1721.94 crore was allocated for the agriculture sector. "During 2022-23, the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) grew at around 8.89 per cent against 7.20 per cent growth at the national level. The GSDP growth for 2024-25 is estimated to be 8.47 per cent," the minister said.

4:49 PM

News update: GST collection grows 12.5% to over Rs 1.68 trillion in February

The finance ministry announced today that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection has grown 12.5 per cent year-on-year to over Rs 1.68 trillion in February 2024.

4:26 PM

News update: BRS MP from Telangana's Zaheerabad BB Patil joins BJP

4:25 PM

TMC is angry as I am fighting against corrupt leaders: PM Modi

 "The poor are suffering because of Trinamool's politics; TMC is angry as I am fighting against corrupt leaders," PM Modi said at Arambagh rally. The central goverment is sending funds to West Bengal, but TMC govt is not utilising them and creating blockades, he added.

4:19 PM

Trinamool govt big hurdle in empowerment of poor, women: PM Modi

"TMC government is the big hurdle in the empowerment of poor, farmers, youth and women," says PM Modi addressing a public rally in West Bengal's Arambagh.

4:16 PM

Even central agencies not allowed to function in Bengal; TMC sits on dharna against their functioning: PM Modi

Even central agencies not allowed to function in Bengal as TMC sits on dharna against their functioning, PM Modi said. He added, "TMC involved in corruption in all spheres of life - from appointment in govt jobs to cattle smuggling."

4:08 PM

For INDIA bloc leaders, supporting the corrupt and appeasement politics are of prime importance: PM Modi

For INDIA bloc leaders, supporting the corrupt and appeasement politics are of prime importance, said PM Modi at Arambagh rally. I feel ashamed to see that leaders of opposition bloc INDIA are silent on Sandeshkhali atrocities, he added. 

4:06 PM

Sandeshkhali incident matter of shame; for nearly 2 months, prime accused was not arrested: PM Modi in Bengal

Sandeshkhali incident is a matter of shame. The prime accused was not arrested for nearly 2 months, said PM Modi at West Bengal's Arambagh rally. He added, "Entire country is reeling with anger after seeing what TMC has done to the sisters of Sandeshkhali." 

4:00 PM

Met department forecasts above-average temperatures for March

India is likely to experience above normal minimum temperatures in March, India's state-run weather office said on Friday, raising concerns about the country's critical wheat crop. In the first half of March, north-western parts of the country could receive above-normal rainfall, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director-general of the India Meteorological Department, told a virtual news conference. In the second half of March temperatures are likely to rise above normal, he said.

3:35 PM

Twenty five crore people of the country came out of poverty in last 10 years, says PM Modi

3:23 PM

PM Modi unveils projects worth over Rs 7,200 cr from West Bengal's Arambagh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Indian Oil's 518-km Haldia-Barauni crude oil pipeline project developed at about Rs 2,790 crore. PM Modi also dedicated to nation projects worth about Rs 2,680 crore for expanding rail transport facilities, news agency PTI reported.

2:44 PM

4 injured in explosion at Bengaluru cafe: Police

Police said  that four people were injured in an explosion at a cafe in Bengaluru's Kundalahalli today. The cops added that they are trying to find out what caused the explosion at The Rameshwaram Cafe, a  restaurant in the neighbourhood.

2:32 PM

We will win over 400 seats in LS polls; Country relying on Modi's guarantee, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asserted that the NDA will win 400 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections as the country is relying on Modi's guarantee.

1:23 PM

News update: AAP worker shot dead in Punjab

A worker of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was shot dead by unidentified criminals in Punjab's Tarn Taran district today, police said. He was travelling alone, they said. The incident took place when Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi Chohla was going to Kapurthala district for a court matter in his car. 

1:03 PM

News update: Delhi Govt releases Economic Survey 2023-24

1:01 PM

LIVE news update: PM Modi holds roadshow in Dhanbad, Jharkhand

12:54 PM

News update: DVAC raids are underway at the premises related to AIADMK ex-MLA Prabhu in Tamil Nadu

The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) officials are raiding Prabhu and his father Iyappa's residenc in Tamil Nadu's Kallakurichi.

12:47 PM

News update: Jallikattu begins in Tamil Nadu

12:31 PM

Well-established cos among 10 not paying Play Store fee, says Google

Tech giant Google today said some firms including well-established ones continue to flout its billing norms, choosing not to pay Play Store service fee applicable on the sale of in-app digital goods, and warned that it will not hesitate to take necessary action to enforce policies including removal of such non-compliant apps from Google Play.