LIVE updates: 47 die after bus falls in canal in Madhya Pradesh's Sidhi

The bus with over 54 passengers was on way from Siddhi to Satna when it went out of control and fell into the canal. Stay tuned for Latest LIVE news

11:09 PM

Centre yet to explain merits of agri laws to farmers: RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary

The Centre has so far not been able to explain what good the new agriculture laws would do to the farmers, Rashtriya Lok Dal vice president Jayant Chaudhary said on Tuesday, according to PTI. Addressing a mahapanchayat in Mathura's Mant area, Chaudhary took on the government over a host of other issues being faced by farmers including inflation and rising fuel prices.

"Some people keep asking what is wrong with the laws, but I ask them what is good about the laws. The government has not been able to explain to farmers what good the new laws would do to them," PTI quoted the RLD leader as saying. At the mahapanchayat, the ninth such gathering in western Uttar Pradesh this month, he also sought to drum up support for the ongoing farmers' protest at Delhi's borders.

Chaudhary, who has been holding a series of meetings with farmers across the state, alleged that the new laws would "destroy" the farmers instead of helping them. He also hit out at the Centre over the rising prices of petrol, diesel, fertiliser, manure and LPG, inflated power bills in Uttar Pradesh and pending dues of sugarcane farmers.

10:47 PM

TRP case: Bombay HC reserves verdict on ex-BARC CEO's bail plea

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on the bail plea filed by former BARC CEO Partho Dasgupta, an accused in the TRP scam, according to PTI. During the day's hearing, Mumbai police opposed the bail plea with special public prosecutor Shishir Hiray telling a single bench presided over by Justice PD Naik that Dasgupta was not answering even the simplest of questions while in jail despite being given a questionnaire. He also said Dasgupta was an influential person and could tamper with evidence if let out on bail.

"He is the kingpin and the one who holds considerable power," Hiray said, and told HC it was apparent from Dasgupta's WhatsApp chats that he had played a direct role in the manipulation of TRPs for TV news channels, as per PTI copy. On Monday, Dasgupta's counsel, senior advocate Abad Ponda, had urged HC to grant him bail saying the police had already filed its charge sheet in the case and Dasgupta's custodial interrogation was not required anymore.

Ponda had also told HC that Dasgupta's WhatsApp chats, including those with Republic TV editor-in-chief and his co- accused Arnab Goswami, were merely "loose talks".

9:54 PM

PM Modi to launch key projects in Assam on Feb 18: PMO

PM Modi will launch the ‘Mahabahu-Brahmaputra’, lay the foundation stone of Dhubri Phulbari Bridge and perform 'Bhoomi Pujan' for construction of Majuli Bridge, Assam on 18th February at 12 noon via video conferencing: PMO

9:21 PM

Dr. Kiran Bedi removed as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry: Rashtrapati Bhavan

9:03 PM

A control room set up in Ranchi to provide information about missing people in Chamoli

8:46 PM

Crowds thin at Singhu, Tikri, but farmers say movement stronger than ever

As the farmers' stir against three new agriculture laws of the Centre inches towards the three-month mark, crowds at the major protest sites -- Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders -- visibly appear to be thinning, but the leaders maintain that their movement is now stronger than ever.

 

Even as the "langars" and tents at Delhi's borders appear vacant, the farmer leaders insist that the crowd is merely shifting from one spot to another to mobilise more people to join the movement.

 

"The crowd is not thinning at all. We are simply trying to decentralise the movement and mobilise people in villages and districts, and not just in Punjab and Haryana. READ ON...

8:27 PM

Sedition law cannot be invoked to quieten disquiet under pretence of muzzling miscreants, says Delhi court

Farmers' protest: Sedition law cannot be invoked to quieten the disquiet under pretence of muzzling miscreants, says Delhi court

8:17 PM

Madhya Pradesh's Sidhi bus accident: 45 bodies found so far, search on

A bus carrying over 50 passengers fell into a canal in Madhya Pradesh's Sidhi district on Tuesday morning killing at least 45 people, Rajesh Kumar Jain, Divisional Commissioner, Rewa, told news agency ANI. At least seven people were rescued from the canal. The cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained," Jain told ANI. "We have recovered 42 dead bodies so far. They have been sent for post mortem," he added.

 

The bus going from Sidhi to Satna, carrying around 57 passengers, fell into a canal in Sidhi after the driver lost control over it.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for kin of those who lost their lives in the Sidhi bus accident on Tuesday. Expressing grief over the situation, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu tweeted, "Deeply anguished by the loss of lives in a bus accident in Sidhi district, Madhya Pradesh. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured as rescue operations are underway."

A team of two ministers will visit the bus accident site after Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan called a meeting to discuss the incident.

8:08 PM

FIRs filed against those who housed foreigners after Tablighi Jamaat, Police tells HC

The police told the Delhi High Court on Tuesday that those who housed foreigners attending the Tablighi Jamaat congregation here last year, in violation of certain guidelines, have been included as accused in the FIRs lodged in connection with the event, PTI reported today.

 

The submission was made by Delhi Police in the status reports filed in the high court in response to two pleas by two Indian nationals, each of whom had given accommodation to four foreigners who had attended the Nizamuddin Markaz event, seeking quashing of the FIRs against them.

 

Justice Suresh Kait listed the pleas of the two Indians -- Feroz Siddique and Rizwan -- on March 8 for further hearing along with six other similar petitions seeking quashing of the FIRs against them in connection with the event.

8:07 PM

Amazon announces first device manufacturing line in India

E-commerce giant Amazon has announced its plans to begin manufacturing Amazon Devices in India. This is the first Amazon manufacturing line in India and reiterates the firm’s commitment to the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ for an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

 

The company did not disclose the amount it proposes to invest.

 

Amazon will commence its manufacturing efforts with contract manufacturer Cloud Network Technology, a subsidiary of Foxconn in Chennai and start production later this year. The device manufacturing programme will be able to produce hundreds of thousands of Fire TV Stick devices every year, catering to the demands of customers in India. Amazon will continuously evaluate scaling capacity to additional marketplaces and cities depending on the domestic demand. READ ON...