A look at the headlines right now:

  1. Car in Uttar Pradesh minister’s convoy flees after allegedly running over an 8-year-old boy in Gonda: Om Prakash Rajbhar claimed he was unaware of the hit and run.
  2. BJP is likely to lose the Gujarat elections, says MNS chief Raj Thackeray: He said it should be considered a miracle by EVMs if the ruling party manages to win over 150 seats in the 182-seat strong Assembly.
  3. Two militants, police constable killed in encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora: The police said the gunbattle ensued after the militants fired at security personnel during search operations.
  4. Media must discuss, debate on democracy in political parties, PM Modi tells journalists:The prime minister urged for transparency in the recruitment and functioning of the parties.
  5. Former MP of Telugu Desam Party booked for allegedly threatening to release a woman’s private photos: The complainant has claimed that Nama Nageswara Rao had also assaulted her to for questioning him about his alleged affair with a former Karnataka MLC.
  6. India ‘very strongly’ raised work visa rules with US, says Suresh Prabhu: Last week, the US said applicants wanting to renew non-immigrant American visas will face the same level of scrutiny as those seeking fresh ones.  
  7. Congress must stop defending Ahmed Patel’s alleged links to Islamic State, says BJP minister: Former Union Minister P Chidambaram defended the Gujarat MP and said that the demands for his resignation were ‘outrageous’.  
  8. At least 17 killed in twin blasts in Mogadishu: Militant group al Shabaab claimed the attacks, and said they targeted security officials and politicians.  
  9. Chidambaram says when people ask for ‘azadi’, they seek autonomy, BJP criticises comment: The former Union minister also said that the appointment of an interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir was only a ‘diversionary’ tactic.  
  10. Hardik Patel warns Congress of protests if it does not make its stand clear on Patidar reservation: The Patidar Amanat Andolan Samiti convener said the Congress would face protests similar to what Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah faced in Surat.