Top news: Key accused in Pulwama attack killed in encounter, say police

Farooq Abdullah claims Centre ordered Balakot air strike to gain edge ahead of elections

National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Monday claimed the Centre had ordered the air strikes across the Line of Control to gain an advantage in the Lok Sabha elections, PTI reported. Abdullah questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government’s estimate that the Indian Air Force strike killed around 300 Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists at a camp in Pakistan’s Balakot.

Editors Guild protests Meghalaya HC order to hold Shillong Times’ editor and publisher in contempt

The Editors Guild of India on Monday expressed its displeasure over the Meghalaya High Court’s decision to hold Shillong Times’ editor Patricia Mukhim and publisher Shobha Chaudhuri in contempt. The organisation said the order is intimidatory and undermines press freedom.

Suresh Prabhu orders safety assessment of Boeing 737 Max in India after Ethiopia plane crash

Minister of Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu on Monday asked the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to conduct a safety assessment of all Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft operated in India. The direction came a day after a Boeing 737 Max 8 plane operated by Ethiopian Airlines crashed soon after taking off from Addis Ababa airport. All 157 on board the plane were killed.

Terror financing case: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq says he can’t appear before NIA due to security reasons

Hurriyat Conference chairperson Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s counsel has told the National Investigation Agency that his client cannot adhere to its summons because of security concerns. Aijaz Ahmad Dhar, in a letter to the agency, said his client feared for his security in view of “conditions of hostility”.

‘Non-BJP, non-Congress front to emerge after Lok Sabha polls,’ says Telangana Rashtra Samithi

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi on Monday said a clear picture of the “non-BJP, non-Congress federal front” proposed by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will emerge after the General Election results are out, PTI reported. The ruling party’s Working President KT Rama Rao said the Telangana chief minister has travelled to five or six states and has held preliminary discussions with several political leaders.

‘Dozens of elections happen during festivals’: Ravi Shankar Prasad on row over polling during Ramzan

Union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday criticised some Opposition leaders for stirring up a controversy over conducting elections during the month of Ramzan. The Election Commission said that elections cannot be held off for an entire month and so it had excluded Fridays and dates of main festivals from its schedule.

2007 Samjhauta train blast: Verdict deferred, next hearing on Thursday

A special National Investigation Agency court in Panchkula on Monday reserved the order in the 2007 Samjhauta Express blast case. The next hearing will be on Thursday. The court’s decision to defer the matter after a Pakistani woman moved a petition claiming she had evidence related to the case.

J&K: At least 18 terrorists have been killed since Pulwama terror attack, says Army

Security forces have killed 18 terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir over the last 21 days, said General Officer Commanding of Srinagar-based 15 Corps Lieutenant General Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon at a press conference on Monday. Dhillon said militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed’s second-in-command is among the deceased.

Gujarat: Congress MLA Vallabhbhai Dharaviya becomes the third to quit Assembly, joins BJP

Gujarat Congress MLA Vallabhbhai Dharaviya resigned from the party on Monday, a day ahead of the Congress Working Committee meeting in Ahmedabad. He is the third Congress MLA to have resigned from the party in the past four days.

Maharashtra: Sharad Pawar will not contest 2019 Lok Sabha elections

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Monday announced that he will not contest the upcoming General Elections. Several reports over the past month had said Pawar will contest from Madha constituency in Maharashtra.

Jaish-e-Mohammad militant killed in Tral encounter was key accused in Pulwama attack, says police

One of the Jaish-e-Mohammad militants killed in an encounter with security forces in Tral town of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday has been identified as a key conspirator of the recent Pulwama suicide attack, the state police said in a statement on Monday.

‘Voting among Muslims will increase’: Owaisi rejects controversy around polling during Ramzan

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday rejected concerns about elections being held in the month of Ramzan. The controversy surrounding this is wrong and uncalled for, he said in a video released on Twitter.

Will take action against those using Sabarimala in campaign, says Kerala election chief

Kerala Chief Election Commissioner Teeka Ram Meena on Monday warned political parties in the state against using the Sabarimala temple matter in election campaigning.

Shiv Sena criticises use of army personnel on BJP’s political ads, says it helps the Opposition

The Shiv Sena on Monday attacked its alliance partner the Bharatiya Janata Party for allegedly using the sacrifices of soldiers in electioneering. The Shiv Sena, in an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana, said those who wear Army uniforms while campaigning or use photographs of Army personnel on their posters, are just as wrong as parties that demand proof of the Indian Air Force’s strikes in Balakot, Pakistan.

Johnson & Johnson faulty implants: Company asked to pay Rs 74.5 lakh compensation to a patient

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation on Sunday ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay over Rs 74.5 lakh as compensation to a patient from Maharashtra who used faulty hip implants manufactured by the pharmaceutical giant.

INX Media case: CBI allowed to give extra documents opposing P Chidambaram’s anticipatory bail plea

The Delhi High Court on Monday admitted a petition by the Central Bureau of Investigation to take on record additional submissions in connection with the pending anticipatory bail plea of former Union minister P Chidambaram in the INX Media case.

JNU ‘sedition’ case: Why hurry to file chargesheet without getting sanctions, court asks police

A Delhi court on Monday sought a report from the Delhi Police in connection with the sedition case against former Jawaharlal Nehru University student leaders.

Upper-caste quota: SC to decide on March 28 if Constitution bench will hear petitions

The Supreme Court on Monday said it will hear a petition against the Centre’s decision to introduce 10% reservation for the economically weak among upper castes on March 28. The court will decide on that day if the plea needs to be referred to a Constitution bench.

New policy to encourage militants in Jammu and Kashmir to surrender being considered: Indian Express

The Jammu and Kashmir government is considering a new policy to encourage militants from the state to give up arms, including a monthly stipend of Rs 6,000 for those who surrender, a report said.

President Ram Nath Kovind confers Padma awards on 47 recipients

President Ram Nath Kovind conferred the Padma awards on 47 of this year’s 112 recipients at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday. The remaining winners are expected to be conferred the honour on March 16.

Madhya Pradesh: Congress government appoints religious leader ‘Computer Baba’ to head river trust

The Madhya Pradesh government has appointed Namdev Tyagi, better known as “Computer Baba”, to the post of the chairperson of the Ma Narmada, Ma Kshipra evam Ma Mandakini River Trust.

Tamil Nadu: Actor Vijayakanth’s Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam joins AIADMK-BJP alliance

Tamil actor Vijayakanth’s Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam on Sunday formed an alliance with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam after weeks of intense negotiations ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections as well as the bye-polls in Tamil Nadu.

West Bengal: Seven-phase polling during Ramzan will cause inconvenience to people, claims Trinamool

The ruling Trinamool Congress on Sunday claimed that the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal will inconvenience people during Ramzan and the summer months.

Lok Sabha elections: Opinion poll projects slight majority for NDA, with BJP falling to 238 seats

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance will win a majority of parliamentary seats in the Lok Sabha elections to be held in seven phases starting April 11, a nationwide opinion poll has shown.

JNU ‘sedition’ case: Why hurry to file chargesheet without getting sanctions, court asks police

A Delhi court on Monday sought a report from the Delhi Police in connection with the sedition case against former Jawaharlal Nehru University student leaders. Former JNU Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar is among the accused in the 2016 sedition case. The Delhi Police on Monday told the court that authorities were yet to give requisite sanctions to prosecute the accused.

‘Tune in to India’s Mann ki Baat on May 23’: How front pages of newspapers reported election dates

The Election Commission on Sunday announced the dates for the 2019 General Elections. The results will be declared on May 23. Newspapers across the country provided extensive coverage to the announcement. The Hindustan Times front page said “Now Open: Election 2019”. The Times of India ran the headline “Tune In To India’s Mann ki Baat on May 23” – a reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mann ki Baat radio show. The Indian Express’ headline was relatively simple – “Decision 2019: Dates are in”.

Tamil Nadu: Bye-polls for 18 of 21 vacant Assembly seats along with Lok Sabha elections on April 18

Bye-elections for 16 of the 18 Assembly seats that were vacated in Tamil Nadu after their MLAs were disqualified will take place on April 18 along with the Lok Sabha elections. Bye-elections in two other vacant seats will also take place on the same date, the state’s Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo said on Sunday.

Lok Sabha elections: Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag constituency to vote in three phases

Polling in the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat of Jammu and Kashmir will take place in three phases – the first time that polling for a single seat will be held in multiple phases. Polling for Jammu and Kashmir’s six Lok Sabha seats will take place in five phases. “We will have to carry out three phases of election for just one constituency of Anantnag,” Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said while explaining why the Assembly polls would not be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections. “So you can imagine how complicated it is.”

Ethiopia plane crash: Four Indians are among 157 killed, says Sushma Swaraj

Four Indians were killed in the Ethiopian Airlines crash on Sunday that left all 157 people on board dead, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Sunday. “I am sorry to know about the unfortunate crash of Ethiopian Airlines plane ET 302,” she tweeted. “We have lost four Indian nationals in the air crash. I have asked Indian High Commissioner in Ethiopia to provide all help and assistance to the bereaved families.”

J&K: Two Jaish-e-Mohammad militants killed in encounter in Tral, say police

Two suspected militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Tral town of Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, police said. The militants were associated with the terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad, they said. The outfit had claimed responsibility for the terror attack that killed 40 Central Reserve Police Force jawans in Pulwama on February 14.

‘India’s claims meant only to satisfy domestic audience,’ says Pakistan on air skirmishes

Pakistan on Sunday again refuted India’s claim that the Indian Air Force had shot down a Pakistani F-16 jet and described it as “completely baseless”. The Pakistani Foreign Office said India’s claims are “meant only to satisfy Indian domestic audience” and that they exposed New Delhi’s “lies”. India has earlier claimed it has parts of the AMRAAM missile, which only Pakistan F-16s carry, as evidence to back its claim that it shot down an F-16 aircraft.

Patidar leader Hardik Patel to join Congress on March 12

Patidar leader Hardik Patel on Sunday said he will join the Congress on March 12. It is not yet clear if he will contest the Lok Sabha elections. “To give shape to my intentions to serve society and country, I have decided to join Indian National Congress on 12th March in presence of Shri Rahul Gandhi and other senior leaders,” Patel tweeted.

2019 General Elections: Voting to be held in 7 phases from April 11 to May 19, counting on May 23

Voting to elect the 17th Lok Sabha will take place in seven phases between April 11 and May 19, the Election Commission announced on Sunday. The votes will be counted on May 23. The Model Code of Conduct came into effect immediately after the announcement. Assembly elections for Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim will be held along with the General Elections. The poll panel did not announce the dates for Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.