Top news: India-based documentary on menstruation wins Academy Award

National War Memorial inaugurated in Delhi, Modi says his government strengthened armed forces

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the National War Memorial near India Gate. He lit the flame kept at the bottom of the stone-made pillar to pay homage to the soldiers who died in the line of duty.

AAP preparing to contest Delhi elections alone as Congress refused alliance, says Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said his Aam Aadmi Party is preparing to contest the Lok Sabha elections alone as the Congress has ruled out an alliance with it, NDTV reported. In an interview with the news channel, Kejriwal said all doors are closed to the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress.

‘Arunachal government failed to inform people about permanent resident certificate’: Kiren Rijiju

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Monday said the Arunachal Pradesh government had failed to communicate with the people of the state regarding permanent resident certificates to six minority communities.

Adani group wins bids to operate five airports

The Adani Group has entered the airport business after winning bids to operate five of six airports that were designated for privatisation by the Centre. The conglomerate has won the contracts to run the non-metro airports of Ahmedabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Lucknow, Mangaluru and Jaipur airports.

Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi recuses himself from hearing plea against lawyer designation system

Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi on Monday recused himself from hearing a petition from a lawyers’ body against the designation of advocates with a practice of 30 years or more as senior.

Karnataka: Parameshwara claims he missed CM’s post three times as he is from Dalit community

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara on Sunday claimed he did not get the top post in the state because he belonged to the Dalit community. “I am a victim of suppression and hence couldn’t get the chief minister’s post,” he said.

Sibal’s Tiranga TV, 12 others, get show cause notice for airing Pakistan Army spokesperson’s meet

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued a show cause notice to 13 television news channels, including Congress leader Kapil Sibal’s Tiranga TV, for broadcasting the media briefing of Pakistan’s Army spokesperson despite an advisory on airing content following the Pulwama terror attack.

‘There’s no hurry,’ says Robert Vadra as posters welcome him to contest Lok Sabha elections

A day after businessman Robert Vadra expressed interest in “a larger role in serving the people” once he sees through the various investigations he is undergoing, posters emerged in Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad welcoming him to contest elections from the constituency.

J&K: Omar Abdullah says holding timely elections will be Modi government’s ‘moment of truth’

National Conference leader and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said the Narendra Modi-led government will experience a moment of truth when it takes a decision on holding timely elections. The state has been under President’s rule since December 19, 2018.

Parliamentary panel tells Twitter to ensure there is no foreign influence in Lok Sabha elections

The Parliamentary panel on Information Technology, headed by Bharatiya Janata Party MP Anurag Thakur, on Monday directed social media website Twitter to ensure that foreign players do not influence the upcoming Indian elections. Thakur said that senior officials of Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram have been asked to appear before the panel on March 6.

West Bengal: Opposition attacks Mamata Banerjee after retired IPS officer commits suicide

Opposition parties in West Bengal have criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee since a police officer committed suicide in Kolkata last week. Retired IPS officer Gaurav Chandra Dutt killed himself on February 19 after writing a letter in which he blamed Banerjee and the system for punishing him.

Samajwadi Party, BSP forge alliance in Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand for Lok Sabha polls: Reports

The Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party on Monday announced an alliance in Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand for the Lok Sabha elections. The two parties have already forged an alliance in Uttar Pradesh, which sends 80 MPs to the Lower House of Parliament.

Manohar Parrikar’s condition is stable, says Goa Chief Minister’s Office

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s health condition is stable, the Chief Minister’s Office said in tweet on Monday. Parrikar was admitted to the Goa Medical College and Hospital late on Saturday. The office said that Dr Pramod Garg from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences conducted a thorough check-up of Parrikar’s health. “The doctors are happy with his progress and the chief minister continues to be stable,” it added.

Muzaffarpur rape case: Delhi court directs CBI to appoint public prosecutor in two days

A Delhi court on Monday asked the Central Bureau of Investigation to appoint a special public prosecutor in the Muzaffarpur shelter home sexual assault case in the next two days. Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Kulshrestha scheduled the next hearing for February 27.

SC issues notice to Centre, J&K government on plea to protect human rights of armed forces

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a plea that sought the protection of human rights of security personnel who were being attacked while they perform their duty. The bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna issued notices to the Centre, Jammu and Kashmir government, the defence ministry and the National Human Rights Commission based on a petition filed by two children of security personnel.

Kulgam encounter: Two of three killed militants were top Jaish commanders from Pakistan, say police

The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday said two of the three militants killed in an encounter in Kulgam on Sunday were top commanders of Pakistan-based extremist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed.They were allegedly involved in conspiring and executing several terror attacks and were wanted for their complicity in a series of terror crimes.

Afghanistan begins exports to India through Iran’s Chabahar port

Afghanistan on Sunday began exports to India through the Chabahar port in Iran. This is the first time Afghanistan has exported goods to India bypassing the Pakistan route. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani flagged off the first consignment of exports.

Arunachal Pradesh protests: Curfew remains in Itanagar and Naharlagun, no reports of violence so far

The Arunachal Pradesh Police on Monday said that no reports of violence were reported from anywhere in the state even as an indefinite curfew imposed in Itanagar and Naharlagun continued. Internet services continue to be suspended and shops and markets in Itanagar and Naharlagun remained closed, said police.

SC dismisses plea seeking direction to parties not to field candidates with more than two children

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a public interest litigation that sought a direction to political parties disallowing those with more than two children from contesting elections. The plea, filed by lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay, sought to declare a two-child norm for government jobs, subsidies and other aids.

Arnab Goswami, three other Republic TV journalists face non-bailable warrant in Srinagar

The court of the chief judicial magistrate of Srinagar on Saturday issued a non-bailable warrant against Republic TV editor Arnab Goswami and three other journalists in a case filed by Peoples Democratic Party leader Naeem Akhtar. Akhtar alleged that the news channel telecast “scandalous” content against him. He had filed a plea seeking punishment for the accused under Section 499 and Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code, which relate to defamation.

1984 anti-Sikh violence: Supreme Court judge recuses himself from hearing Sajjan Kumar’s appeal

A Supreme Court judge on Monday recused himself from hearing the appeal of former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar against his sentencing in a case of 1984 anti-Sikh violence. Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who was part of the bench set to hear the life convict’s plea, recused himself.

BJP is desperately trying to placate farmers with income support scheme, claims P Chidambaram

Former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Monday claimed the central government’s income scheme for farmers was a desperate attempt by the Bharatiya Janata Party to “placate them with crumbs”. The senior Congress leader also described the scheme as a “cash for votes” scheme.

Money laundering case: Court directs ED to provide copies of seized documents to Robert Vadra

A Delhi court on Monday directed the Enforcement Directorate to provide businessman Robert Vadra copies of the documents seized by the agency during raids conducted at his offices in December 2018. While the agency provided the soft copies on Monday, Special Judge Arvind Kumar told it to provide the hard copies of the documents within five days.

Ayodhya case: Supreme Court asks Subramanian Swamy to appear in court on Tuesday

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy on Monday mentioned before the Supreme Court his plea that he has a fundamental right to offer prayers at the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi site in Ayodhya. However, the bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, asked him to be present in court on Tuesday during the hearing of the Ram temple case.

‘My party is not a B-team for anyone, it is Tamil Nadu’s A-team,’ says Kamal Haasan

Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan on Sunday refuted claims that his Makkal Needhi Maiam outfit was the Bharatiya Janata Party’s “B-team” in Tamil Nadu, saying attacks like these had increased as his party was growing in stature.

Assam liquor deaths: Trade union of tea workers to shut down alcohol shops from today

The Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha, the largest trade union of tea garden workers in the state, will begin to close all liquor shops in tea gardens in the state from Monday. The organisation’s decision comes after over 140 people died after consuming spurious alcohol in Golaghat and Jorhat last week.

Ramdev likely to head India’s first Vedic school board: Report

Yoga guru Ramdev is likely to head the Bharatiya Shiksha Board, which the government wants to set up to standardise education in Vedic tradition. Ramdev’s Patanjali Yogpeeth Trust was on Saturday selected as the best bidder to set up this proposed government-recognised education board. The Bharatiya Shiksha Board will be the first private board to be recognised by the Centre.

MJ Akbar defamation case: Journalist Priya Ramani granted bail by Delhi court

A Delhi court on Monday granted bail to journalist Priya Ramani on a personal bond of Rs 10,000 in connection with a defamation case filed against her by former Union minister MJ Akbar in October last year.

Article 35A: J&K government says it has sought adjournment of Supreme Court hearing

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Sunday said it has sought adjournment of the hearing of the plea challenging Article 35A of the Indian Constitution in the Supreme Court. The court is set to hear the case this week.

Pulwama attack: ‘Truth will come out if NSA Ajit Doval is investigated,’ claims Raj Thackeray

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray on Sunday claimed that the “truth” about the Pulwama attack would come out if National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is investigated by authorities. At least 40 Central Reserve Police Force jawans were killed on February 14 in the South Kashmir district after a Jaish-e-Mohammed militant drove an explosive-laden vehicle into a Srinagar-bound convoy.

Amit Shah claims Jawaharlal Nehru is responsible for present situation in Kashmir

Bharatiya Janata Party National President Amit Shah claimed on Sunday that India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was responsible for the present situation in Kashmir. The BJP chief made the remark while addressing the Vijay Sankalp Sammelan in Jammu.

Manmohan Singh says India is a ‘reluctant’ nuclear weapons state

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Sunday that India is a “reluctant” nuclear weapons state. Singh was speaking at the launch of Observer Research Foundation’s Nuclear Order in the Twenty First Centurywritten by former diplomat Rakesh Sood.

Pulwama attack: Imran Khan urges Narendra Modi to ‘give peace a chance’, repeats promise of action

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday urged his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to “give peace a chance” in the aftermath of the suicide attack that took place in Pulwama on February 14. Khan reiterated that he would act immediately if India gives “actionable intelligence” on the attack, which was claimed by Pakistan-based Masood Azhar’s Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Meghalaya trapped miners: Another skeleton spotted by rescue team, efforts on to retrieve it

The Indian Navy on Sunday detected a skeleton on the 74th day of the operations to find the 15 miners who were trapped in a mine in Meghalaya on December 13. Two decomposed bodies had been spotted last month, but only one has been recovered so far.

Bangladesh: Plane hijack bid at Chattogram airport foiled, accused killed in exchange of fire

A Dubai-bound plane in Bangladesh was forced to make an emergency landing in Chattogram after security officials foiled a hijacking attempt on Sunday evening. The state-run Biman Bangladesh Airlines Flight BG-147, which was on its way to Dubai from Dhaka via Chattogram, landed at the Shah Amanat International airport in the evening.