Breaking News India Daily Updates

No one must fear CAA, NPR: Maharashtra CM after meeting PM Modi

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray on Friday met PM Narendra Modi and discussed CAA, NPR and NRC with him. "No one needs to fear about the CAA. NPR is not going to throw anyone out of the country," Thackeray said after the meet. This comes amid reports of friction between Shiv Sena and its allies Congress and NCP over CAA.
read more at Free Press Journal

China denies delay in granting permission to Indian flight to Wuhan

China has denied any delay in allowing a special Indian flight to deliver medical supplies and evacuate remaining Indians from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan. "The competent departments on the two sides are still in communication on the arrangement for the remaining 80 people that India plans to fly home," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said.
read more at The Financial Express

Noida-Faridabad road barricaded again after being reopened briefly

A key road that links Faridabad, Noida and Delhi has been closed again, after being reopened briefly on Friday. The road was opened temporarily after being blocked for the last 69 days due to protest against CAA and NRC at Shaheen Bagh in South Delhi. Police barricades have been put up again and road has been closed for regular commuters.
read more at Hindustan Times

WB BJP worker's wife miscarries after alleged assault by TMC workers

A BJP worker's wife suffered a miscarriage after she was allegedly assaulted by TMC workers, reported Times Now. The incident took place late on Tuesday in Hasnabad, North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal. The victim, Sonali Biwi, is married to BJP worker Saddam Gazi and the couple was allegedly attacked while returning home from a BJP booth level meeting.
read more at Times Now

'Nitish vadh in 2020' slogan raised amid Tej Pratap Yadav's speech in Bihar

A video has surfaced of RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav asking a crowd in Vaishali, Bihar, "2020 mein kiska vadh hoga? (Who'll be killed in 2020?)". Some people in the crowd are heard saying, "Nitish ka! (CM Nitish Kumar!)". Yadav was referring to the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, likely to take place in the second half of 2020.
read more at ANI

6-yr-old grandson richer than ex-Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu by ₹15 crore

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's six-year-old grandson Devansh is richer than him by ₹15.55 crore. As per the declaration of assets of Naidu and his family members, the net worth of Naidu's assets was ₹3.87 crore, while his son Nara Lokesh possesses assets worth ₹19 crore. Naidu's wife Bhuvaneswari has assets worth ₹39.58 crore.
read more at Hindustan Times

He forcibly kissed me: Another nun accuses Bishop Franco of harassment

Fresh allegations of sexual harassment have come up against Catholic Bishop Franco Mulakkal, accused of raping a nun at a Kerala convent. The Bishop allegedly hugged and forcibly kissed another nun in April 2017 at a Kannur convent. The victim also said that Mulakkal used lewd language with sexual undertones with her, including descriptions of their body parts.
read more at The New Indian Express

Daughter Ivanka, son-in-law to accompany Prez Trump to India: Reports

US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner will accompany him during his visit to India, PTI quoted official sources as saying on Friday. Trump's wife Melania will also be part of US President's high-level delegation which includes some of his Cabinet members. He will arrive in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on February 24, for his scheduled two-day visit.
read more at Deccan Herald

MP govt withdraws sterilisation order, removes IAS officer who issued it

MP government on Friday withdrew its order making it compulsory for all male health workers in the state to convince at least one man to get sterilised or face penalties. Health Minister Tulsiram Silawat announced its immediate withdrawal, saying, "Things should be done after proper reasoning." IAS officer Chhavi Bhardwaj who issued the order was also removed from her post.
read more at India.com

Ex-BSP MLA's son arrested for 23-yr-old BTech student's murder in UP

Former BSP MLA Samar Bahadur's son Aman Bahadur was on Friday arrested in connection with murder of an engineering student in Lucknow, UP on Thursday. The 23-year-old victim Prashant Singh was stabbed multiple times and the incident was caught on a CCTV camera. Singh had allegedly got into a verbal altercation with Bahadur at a party on Wednesday.
read more at India.com

Gurugram Traffic Police's 'Dus Bahane' song meme tweet goes viral

Gurugram Traffic Police took to Twitter to use the 'Dus Bahane' song meme to raise awareness about wearing helmets while riding two-wheelers. "I looked at you. You looked at me. Aur ho gayi mushkil. #WearAHelmet #RoadSafety," wrote Gurugram Traffic Police while sharing three pictures. Reacting to it, a Twitter user wrote, "All the police handles have become real cool."
read more at Hindustan Times

Who is Amulya Leona, the woman arrested for raising 'Pak Zindabad' slogan?

Amulya Leona is a journalism student in Bengaluru, Indian Express reported. According to her Facebook profile, she did her schooling in Manipal and is studying at NMKRV College for Women. The student activist was among the group of women who had confronted Postcard News founder Mahesh Vikram Hegde at Mangaluru airport in January and asked him to sing Vande Mataram.

DGCA to test aviation personnel for psychoactive drugs like cannabis

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has proposed testing aviation personnel for use of psychoactive drugs including cannabis, opioids and their variants, said officials on Friday. The test will be carried out randomly under supervision of officers at DGCA-authorised labs, said a statement. Those who test positive will be subjected to rehabilitation before they can join duties again.
read more at The Quint

Khemka suffered, didn't compromise: Book on IAS officer transferred 53 times

Two Delhi-based journalists have written a book on Haryana IAS officer Ashok Khemka, who has been transferred 53 times during his entire civil services career. "Throughout his career, Khemka...suffered at the hands of his political masters for his refusal to compromise," says the book 'Just Transferred: The Untold Story of Ashok Khemka' by Bhavdeep Kang and Namita Kala.

Delhi's National Museum drops non-veg menu from event citing 'sentiments'

Non-vegetarian food has been dropped from menu of Delhi's National Museum's week-long exhibition-cum-event on India's culinary history, Historical Gastronomica. A senior museum official cited "unwritten policy" based on "sentiments" as the reason behind the move. "The museum is full of idols of Gods, Goddesses. We have to respect the sentiments of the people who visit us," he said.
read more at The Quint

Female trainee clerks in Guj made to stand naked for physical test: Union

Several female trainee clerks of the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) were made to stand together naked in the gynaecology ward of a hospital for a physical test, the SMC Employees Union claimed. The union alleged even unmarried women were checked for pregnancy by female doctors. Surat Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani has formed a three-member committee to probe the allegations.
read more at The New Indian Express

India asks Oxford museum to return 'stolen' bronze statue

Indian government has asked Ashmolean Museum in Oxford to return a 15th-century bronze idol that was apparently stolen from a temple in 1960s. The Indian high commission in London said a formal request for restitution of the statue of Saint Thirumangai Alvar was made last Friday. The sculpture, almost one metre tall, depicts Thirumangai Alvar holding a sword and shield.
read more at The Guardian

Woman held for holding 'Kashmir Mukti, Muslim Mukti' placard in B'luru

A woman was taken into custody in Bengaluru on Friday for holding a placard that read, "Kashmir Mukti, Dalit Mukti and Muslim Mukti". She was holding the placard during a protest organised to denounce Amulya Leona's "Pakistan Zindabad" sloganeering. The woman, identified as Arudra, had to be rescued by the police as a crowd gathered around her.
read more at Zee News

Let her rot in jail: Father of woman who shouted 'Pak Zindabad'

Vojald, the father of Amulya Leona Noronha, the woman who raised 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogans at an anti-CAA rally, said, "Let her rot in jail. I don't mind if police breaks her bones." "I don't support what she said and I'll not approach lawyers for her bail," he added. The Karnataka Police has registered a sedition case against her.
read more at Deccan Herald

Protesting on roads to force opinion on others is terrorism: Kerala Guv

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Friday said that sitting on roads and disrupting normal life to force one's opinion on others is a form of terrorism. "Aggression doesn't come in form of violence only. It [has] many forms," said Khan. "Don't try to impose your thoughts in name of (freedom of speech and) expression on to others," he added.
read more at Deccan Herald

Hath me samvidhan, dil me Waris Pathan: Patra on 'so called liberals'

After AIMIM leader Waris Pathan's 'we 15 crore are tough on 100 crore' remark, BJP's Sambit Patra asked where are the "so-called liberals"? "Koi nazar nahi aa raha...ye saare log 'hath me samvidhan, dil me Waris Pathan' (Nobody can be seen...they carry Constitution in hands with Waris Pathan in hearts)," he said. "They all are hiding behind masks," Patra added.
read more at ANI

Rajnath lays foundation stone for Army's new HQ in Delhi Cantonment

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday laid the foundation stone for the proposed Thal Sena Bhawan- Indian Army's new headquarters in Delhi Cantonment. "Thal Sena Bhawan has been conceptualised as a multistory green building in consonance with environmental norms," Indian Army tweeted. The new Army headquarters will come up near the Manekshaw Centre and will be spread over 39 acres.
read more at Zee News

Plea to identify Hindus as minorities rejected by SC

The Supreme Court has refused to entertain a plea seeking court's directions to identify minorities based on their population at the state level. The plea said that the word "minority" to be defined and stated that although Hindus were in a minority in Ladakh, Mizoram, Lakshadweep, Kashmir etc they cannot avail of the rights accorded to minorities there.
read more at Hindustan Times

Over 7,000 Indian-origin people held last year for trying to enter US

At least 7,720 Indian-origin people including 272 women and 591 juveniles were arrested between October 2018 and September 2019 for trying to cross into the US illegally, official figures revealed. Over 8.5 lakh people were held during the same period, the highest total in 12 years. This was a 115% increase from the October 2017-September 2018 period.
read more at The New Indian Express

Maharashtra to not use 'fail' in class 10, 12 board exam marksheet

In Maharashtra, students appearing class 10 and class 12 board exams will not be marked 'fail' in marksheet. For class 12 students who fail in one or more subjects, 'eligible for re-exam' remark will be used and 'eligible for skill development programme' remark will be used in the event the student fails in three or more subjects.

Noida-Faridabad road shut due to Shaheen Bagh protest reopens after 69 days

The Noida-Faridabad road that was barricaded for last 69 days due to ongoing protest against CAA, NRC and NPR in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh has been reopened. Earlier, Supreme Court-appointed mediators Sanjay Hegde and Sadhana Ramachandran held talks with the protesters. Ramachandran had told protesters they should come up with a solution to end the roadblock and set an example.
read more at Twitter

You called us, we are here: SC mediators to Shaheen Bagh protesters on day 2

The Supreme Court-appointed mediators Sanjay Hegde and Sadhana Ramachandran held the second round of talks with the Shaheen Bagh protesters on Thursday. Ramachandran began addressing the protesters saying, "Aapne bulaya hum chale aaye (You called us and we are here)." Ramachandran further said that the protesters should come up with a solution to end the roadblock and set an example.

Mob vandalises house of woman who shouted 'Pakistan Zindabad' at anti-CAA rally

A mob vandalised Amulya Leona's house a day after she chanted 'Pakistan Zindabad' at an anti-CAA rally in Bengaluru, which was attended by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi. The pictures of her vandalised home, after the mob pelted stones and broke several windows, have surfaced online. The police have moved Amulya's parents and are providing them protection.
read more at The Quint

What she said is wrong: Father of woman who shouted 'Pakistan Zindabad'

Father of the woman, who chanted 'Pakistan Zindabad' on stage at an anti-CAA rally in Bengaluru, has said what she said is wrong. "She was joined by some Muslims and wasn't listening to me," he added. The man further said that he had told her many times not to make provocative statements but she did not listen.
read more at ANI

Woman who raised 'Pak Zindabad' slogan at anti-CAA rally booked for sedition

Amulya Leona, the woman who raised "Pakistan Zindabad" slogan in the presence of AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi at an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) rally in Bengaluru, has been booked under sedition charges of the Indian Penal Code. Police said Amulya, who was taken to a police station on Thursday, has been sent to 14-day judicial custody.
read more at Hindustan Times

Ex-Hockey captain, whose win inspired Chak De! India, files domestic violence case

Suraj Lata Devi, Arjuna awardee and ex-India women hockey captain, has accused her husband of domestic violence and mental torture. "My husband Shanta Singh ridiculed me when I brought all the medals...on the day of my marriage," she said. Devi had led the Indian team to win gold medal in 2002 Commonwealth Games, which inspired film 'Chak De! India'.
read more at PTI

Machine at Delhi station dispenses free platform tickets if people do sit-ups

A machine that dispenses free platform tickets if people do sit-ups in front of it has been installed at Delhi's Anand Vihar Railway Station. Sharing a video of the machine, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal tweeted, "Savings along with fitness. A unique experiment is being done to encourage fitness." In the video, a boy can be seen doing sit-ups.
read more at Twitter

Voter ID sufficient proof of citizenship: Mumbai court

Maintaining that an electoral photo identity card or voter card is sufficient proof of citizenship, a court in Mumbai recently acquitted two persons accused of being "Bangladeshi infiltrators" by the police. However, the court noted that Aadhaar card, PAN card, driving license or ration card cannot be termed as documents proving citizenship in a sufficient manner.

Beer, wine to get cheaper in Haryana; Gurugram bars to remain open till 1 am

Under Haryana's new excise policy, bars in Gurugram, Faridabad and Panchkula will be allowed to remain open till 1 am. The new rules, which will come into force from April 1, will make beer and wine cheaper and will also reduce licence fees for restaurants serving liquor. The excise policy for 2020-21 was unveiled by Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala.

10 men stop 23-yr-old BTech student's car, stab him to death in broad daylight

A 23-year-old BTech student was stabbed multiple times and killed in broad daylight on Thursday in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow. The CCTV footage of the incident showed 10-12 men stopping the victim's car and attacking him, following which he can be seen running towards a building with hands on his chest. He was rushed to hospital, where he died during treatment.
read more at India.com

Trump to stay at Chanakya Suite in Delhi's ITC Maurya, costs ₹8L/ night: Report

US President Donald Trump will be staying at the Chanakya Suite in Delhi's ITC Maurya hotel, according to a Hindustan Times report. The Chanakya Suite spans 4,600 sq ft and costs around ₹8 lakh a night. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will be visiting India on February 24 and 25.
read more at Hindustan Times

Get at least 1 man sterilised or retire from job: MP govt to health staff

The Madhya Pradesh government has issued order informing male Multi-Purpose Health Workers (MPHWs), who failed to convince even one man for sterilisation in 2019-20, that their salaries wouldn't be given and they would be compulsorily retired. The order was issued citing that the number of men opting for sterilisation has been declining in the state over the last five years.

Geologists find 3,350-tonne gold mine in UP, 5 times India's gold reserve

After two decades of search, Geological Survey of India and Uttar Pradesh Directorate of Geology and Mining have discovered two goldmines having around 3,350-tonne gold ore in Sonbhadra district. The discovery is around five times the current gold reserves of India, which is around 626 tonne. The deposits have been found at two places — Son Pahadi and Hardi field.
read more at The Siasat Daily

PM Modi said 1 crore people will welcome me in Ahmedabad: Trump

During a rally in Colorado, US President Donald Trump said, "PM Narendra Modi told me '10 million (1 crore) people are going to welcome you' in Ahmedabad." "I'll never be satisfied with the crowd if we have 10 million in India," he added. Trump will visit India along with First Lady Melania Trump on February 24 and 25.
read more at Free Press Journal

CBSE shares memes for Class 10, 12 students appearing for board exams

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has begun posting memes on social media for Class 10 and Class 12 students appearing for their board exams. An initiative by CBSE board's Chairperson Anita Karwal, some memes also convey exam guidelines. Karwal said that this social media practice will also be continued during non-examination days.
read more at Hindustan Times

Maha poultry sector records loss of over ₹100 cr due to coronavirus scare

The coronavirus (COVID-19) scare has led to Maharashtra poultry sector recording more than ₹100 crore loss in the last 15 days, an official said. "The daily average chicken sale was around 3,500 metric tonnes...[has] come down to 2,000 metric tonnes," the official added. Maharashtra's Department of Animal Husbandry attributed the loss to the rumours that coronavirus can spread through chicken.
read more at India.com

Lord Ram will also be campaigning for BJP in 2024: Shiv Sena

In its mouthpiece 'Saamana', Shiv Sena said that the proposed date of completion of Ayodhya's Ram Temple in 2024 coincides with the Lok Sabha elections that year. "So if [it's] ready, BJP will benefit...Lord Ram will also be campaigning for them," Sena's mouthpiece stated. It further claimed that many Shiv Sainiks laid their lives for the Ram Temple.
read more at Times Now

Sisodia meets Sitharaman, demands Delhi's share in Central taxes

Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday. Tweeting pictures from their meeting, Sisodia wrote that he has demanded Delhi's share in Central taxes from her. "Delhi....not given any share in Central taxes since 2001...whereas 42% of Central taxes are given to other states based on the recommendations of the Finance Commission," Sisodia wrote.
read more at The Financial Express

Media quoted it out of context: Waris Pathan on '15 cr Muslims' remark

AIMIM leader Waris Pathan on Thursday issued a statement saying that the media have quoted his '15 crore Muslims' remark "out of context". "I wish to reiterate...I can never say anything...that hurts the sentiments of any caste...or gender," his statement reads. Pathan had said that 15 crore Muslims are tough on 100 crore Hindus if they come together.
read more at The Quint

Unscientific: Scientists on govt's decision to fund research on cow products

After the Centre announced its decision to fund research in the use of cow products in medicines, toothpaste and shampoos, scientists called it unscientific. More than 110 scientists signed a petition asking Union Minister Harsh Vardhan to withdraw the "call for proposals". Centre has sought research proposals from scientists claiming that cow products are prescribed for various health disorders.
read more at Free Press Journal

Maha govt stops recruitment through online portal 'MahaPariksha'

Maharashtra government has put a stop to recruitment through the 'MahaPariksha' portal following complaints about irregularities in its process. The Uddhav Thackeray-led government will now decentralise the examination process of certain employees and conduct them at the department-level. The portal had conducted optical mark reading tests, shorthand tests for Class C and D employees recruitment.

Over 2.5 lakh youths got jobs in last 2.5 yrs in UP: CM Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said that over 2.51 lakh youths have got jobs in the state over the past two-and-a-half years. He said his government was working on refining the skills of the youths in the state so that they can take up jobs both within as well as outside the country.

PM Modi has advantage on Facebook, he represents 1.5 bn people: Trump

Ahead of his visit to India, US President Donald Trump said that PM Narendra Modi has an advantage on Facebook as he represents "1.5 billion" Indians. "PM Modi is number two on Facebook...Do you know who number one is? Trump. You believe that?" Trump said. Notably, PM Modi has almost 44 million followers on Facebook while Trump has 27 million.

Muslims should have been sent to Pakistan in 1947: Giriraj Singh

Union Minister Giriraj Singh has said that Muslims should've been sent to Pakistan in 1947. "If at that time Muslim brothers had been sent...Hindus brought here, we wouldn't be in this situation," he added. "Before 1947, Muhammad Ali Jinnah pushed for an Islamic nation. It was a big lapse by our ancestors that we're paying the price for," Giriraj said.
read more at India.com

4 railway stations in Prayagraj, including Allahabad Junction, renamed

Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday tweeted that the Centre and UP government have decided to keep the names of four railway stations located in Prayagraj district on the words starting from Prayagraj. Allahabad Junction will now be called Prayagraj Junction, Allahabad City will be Prayagraj Rambag, Allahabad Chhioki will be Prayagraj Chheoki and Prayagghat will be Prayagraj Sangam.
read more at Zee News

Woman shares pic of dogs, BJP spokesperson asks 'Which one are you?'; Swara replies

A woman shared a picture of dogs on Twitter, writing, "Two fallen women became she-dogs because they cooked for their husbands while on their period in their last life." BJP spokesperson Gopal Krishna Agarwal commented, "Which one you identify with your good self." Responding to him, Swara Bhasker wrote, "Your parents have named you after God...respect that at least!"
read more at Twitter