An explosion at a bus station in Jammu on Thursday afternoon killed one person and injured at least 30. The police have arrested the man who threw the grenade and said he is connected to the Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist group.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said the government should investigate how files on the Rafale deal went missing, but also act against those implicated in the document. Gandhi said the government’s claims that news reports on the fighter jet deal were based on “missing documents” means the files are authentic.

A group of men allegedly belonging to a Hindutva outfit attacked two Kashmiri vendors in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow on Wednesday. Police arrested one man, while another accused is absconding.


‘What farce is going on?’ Opposition demands inquiry into Centre’s claim about stolen Rafale files

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee on Thursday demanded an investigation into the missing Rafale deal files and asked the Centre to declare its stance on the matter. She was among several other Opposition leaders who made similar demands on Thursday. “What farce is going on in the country?” Banerjee said in a tweet. “Documents are being stolen from the Ministry of Defence itself. This is a very dangerous situation for the country.”

Ayodhya: Supreme Court to pronounce verdict on sending dispute for mediation tomorrow

The Supreme Court will on Friday pronounce its verdict on whether to send the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case in Ayodhya for mediation as a “permanent solution”. A Constitution bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices SA Bobde, Ashok Bhushan, Abdul Nazeer and DY Chandrachud had said on Wednesday that it was aware of the gravity of the matter and the outcome of mediation on the body politic of the country.

J&K: Security forces kill suspected Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist in Kupwara district

A suspected Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist was killed in a gunfight with Indian security forces in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, the police said. “Based on a credible input about the presence of militants in Badrah Payen area of Kralgund in Handwara, a cordon and search operation was jointly launched yesterday evening by Police and security forces in the area,” a police spokesperson said.

Madras HC asks government whether TV shows, movies are responsible for extramarital affairs

The Madras High Court on Tuesday asked the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government to find out if exposure to “mega television serials” and movies nowadays are responsible for extramarital affairs. The court was hearing a case of a spat that led to the death of a woman’s two lovers.

Rs 20 coins to be issued for the first time

The government has said it will introduce Rs 20 coins shaped like a 12-edged polygon with “design of grains to depict the country’s agricultural dominance”. The date of issue of the new coins is yet to be announced. The Finance Ministry, in a March 6 gazette notification, said the Rs 20 coin will weigh 8.54 gm with a nickel silver outer ring and a centre-piece of nickel brass. New series of Re 1, Rs 2, Rs 5 and Rs 10 denomination coins will also be minted.

‘You are now eligible for Bharat Ratna’: BJP mocks Robert Vadra after he promises to not run away

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday took a dig at businessman Robert Vadra and said he was now eligible for the Bharat Ratna as he had accepted that he “looted”. The party was reacting to a news report quoting Vadra as saying that he was still in the country while many others had fled, purportedly referring to businessmen such as Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, who are involved in fraud cases.

Cabinet approves three corridors of Delhi Metro Phase 4, hydel project in Jammu and Kashmir

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Thursday approved three corridors of Delhi Metro’s Phase 4. This was the government’s last Cabinet meeting before the Lok Sabha elections.

CBI row: Prashant Bhushan tells Supreme Court he made ‘genuine mistake’ in his tweets against Centre

Lawyer Prashant Bhushan on Thursday told the Supreme Court that he had made a “genuine mistake” by tweeting the Centre had placed fabricated documents in court about the appointment of M Nageswara Rao as an interim chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Lokpal appointment: SC gives Centre 10 days to inform it of date for selection committee meeting

The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Centre to submit within 10 days the date of the selection committee’s meeting to pick members of anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal.

Cabinet approves HRD Ministry’s plan to restore 200-point reservation roster in universities

The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the Human Resource Development Ministry’s proposal to introduce an ordinance that will restore the 200-point roster for faculty reservation in universities.

Bomb explodes at Jammu bus station, one killed, at least 30 injured

An explosion at a bus station in Jammu on Thursday afternoon killed one person and injured at least 30 people. The wounded were taken to hospital for treatment.

Kerala: CPI(M) demands probe into how Adani group won bid to operate five airports

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on Wednesday sought an investigation into how Adani Enterprises won a bid to operate five international airports, including Thiruvananthapuram.

Bomb explodes at Jammu bus station, several injured

An explosion at a bus station in Jammu on Thursday afternoon injured around 18 people. The wounded were taken to hospital for further treatment. The area has been cordoned off by the local police and an investigation is underway.

Cabinet approves HRD Ministry’s plan to restore 200-point reservation roster in universities

The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the Human Resource Development Ministry’s proposal to introduce an ordinance that will restore the 200-point roster for faculty reservation in universities.

Rafale deal: Editors Guild says use of Official Secrets Act against media would be reprehensible

The Editors Guild of India on Thursday condemned the remarks made by Attorney General KK Venugopal in the Supreme Court about the sources of recent media coverage of the Rafale deal.

India bans all imports of solid plastic waste

The Centre on Wednesday announced amended rules prohibiting the import of solid plastic waste into India, including in special economic zones and export-oriented units.

Tata research institute says staff, scholars will be paid 50% salary due to ‘insufficient funds’

The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research on Wednesday said that its staff and research scholars will only receive half their salary for February “due to insufficient funds”. The institute has more than 250 members of staff.

Tata research institute says staff, scholars will be paid 50% salary due to ‘insufficient funds’

The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research on Wednesday said that its staff and research scholars will only receive half their salary for February “due to insufficient funds”. The institute has more than 250 members of staff.

Delhi: Congress claims nine AAP MLAs want to switch parties

The Congress on Wednesday claimed that nine legislators of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi were in contact with it and wanted to join the party, a day after rejecting an alliance with Arvind Kejriwal’s party for the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

Air India flight to Frankfurt returns to Delhi after suffering mid-air decompression

An Air India flight to Frankfurt was forced to return to the Delhi airport on Wednesday after it suffered mid-air decompression. An airline statement said no passengers were injured.

‘Investigate missing Rafale files, but also those implicated in them, including Modi’: Rahul Gandhi

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said the government’s claim that unfavourable news reports about the Rafale fighter jet deal were based on “missing documents” means those files are authentic. He said the government can investigate how the files went missing, but should also act on those implicated in them.

Parliamentary panel directs Facebook to ensure platform is not misused during Lok Sabha polls

A parliamentary committee on Information Technology on Wednesday directed social media sites Facebook, Instagram and messaging service WhatsApp to ensure the platforms are not misused during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Two Kashmiri vendors beaten up in Lucknow, one person arrested

A group of men, reportedly from a Hindutva outfit, attacked two Kashmiri roadside vendors in Uttar Pradesh’s capital Lucknow on Wednesday. A resident stopped the saffron-clad men from further assaulting the two men, who were selling dry fruits.

Pakistan claims it shot down two IAF jets, identifies fighter pilots behind the act

The Pakistan government on Wednesday for the first time named its two fighter pilots involved in an aerial skirmish with Indian Air Force jets on February 27. Lauding the Pakistan Air Force pilots in the National Assembly, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also claimed they had shot down two Indian planes.

‘Why can’t India become Israel?’ asks Union minister VK Singh, attacks government critics

Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh on Wednesday claimed that opposition parties, student leaders, actors, journalists and several others critical of the government were the reason why India had failed to emulate Israel in targeting terrorists.

Anil Ambani company wins contract to build airport in Rajkot, Gujarat

Anil Ambani’s Reliance Infrastructure won a contract to build a new airport at Hirasar, in Gujarat’s Rajkot district. The company in a statement said it will have to be completed within 30 months of receiving the Letter of Award, which they have received.