Breaking News India Daily Updates

India's GDP growth at 4.7% in Q3, weaker than previous quarter's 5.1%

India's Gross Domestic Product growth for the October-December quarter came in at 4.7%, lower than the upwardly revised 5.1% in the previous quarter, official data showed. The growth rate for the April-June quarter was revised to 5.6% from 5%. The growth in GDP for 2019-20 is estimated at 5%, the lowest in 11 years, as compared to 6.1% in 2018-19.
read more at Bloomberg Quint

Kerala successful in containing coronavirus as all 3 cases cured: Govt

Kerala has been successful in containing coronavirus, state Health Minister KK Shailaja Teacher said, as all three medical students, who returned from China's Wuhan and tested positive for the coronavirus in Kerala, have been cured. About 3,500 people had been quarantined and were released after 28 days, she added. Further, she said at least 135 are still under home quarantine.
read more at ANI

Opp'n inciting riots over CAA by spreading misinformation: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday accused opposition parties of inciting communal riots over CAA by spreading 'misinformation' that Muslims will lose citizenship due to the law. "I've said this before and repeating it now...nobody, no Indian Muslim will lose citizenship because of CAA," Shah said in Odisha. This came as death toll in Delhi riots crossed 40.
read more at The New Indian Express

On-spot ₹25k ex-gratia to those whose houses burned in Delhi riots: Kejriwal

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal announced immediate ex-gratia of ₹25,000 for people whose houses completely or substantially burned down in Delhi riots. The amount will be disbursed to affected people in cash from tomorrow, said Kejriwal. "Balance amount will be assessed within two-three days by PWD department and we'll make an effort to get them their balance cheque," he added.
read more at The Quint

BSF jawan's house burnt down during riots, mob shouts 'Come here Pakistani'

BSF jawan Mohammed Anees's house was burnt down during the riots in Northeast Delhi. The members of the mob who burnt down his house were heard shouting, "Come here Pakistani, get your citizenship." Anees and three of his family members who were at home at the time fled for their lives. They were later rescued by the paramilitary forces.
read more at Sputnik

Muslim neighbours guarded my home amid riots: Hindu resident of northeast Delhi

Ram Sevak Sharma, a resident of riot-affected Mustafabad in northeast Delhi said his family felt safe among their Muslim neighbours. Sharma said that during riots his Muslim neighbours went to his house and assured his family not to worry. "They told me to sleep peacefully as they would stand guard outside my house. And they did," he added.
read more at ANI

21-yr-old who got married on Valentine’s Day loses husband to riots after 12 days

A 22-year-old electrician named Ashfaq Hussain, who got married on Valentine's Day to 21-year-old Tasleen Fatima, was shot dead during the riots in Northeast Delhi. The newly married couple shared their first meal at 2 PM on February 25 after returning from Bulandshahr, where they got married. He was shot after stepping out of his house in Mustafabad.
read more at India.com

BJP falsely accusing Hussain to save its leaders: AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan on Thursday claimed that suspended AAP councillor Tahir Hussain was 'innocent' after he was charged with murder over death of IB officer amid Delhi riots. "BJP is implicating Tahir Hussain in a false case to save its leaders and to defame the Aam Aadmi Party," Khan tweeted after the party suspended Hussain.
read more at Twitter

Man tweets '5 bombs in Rajdhani', because his brother's train was '4 hours late'

The New Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express was halted at Dadri near New Delhi after a passenger tweeted claiming there were "5 bombs" in the train. The Railway Protection Force checked the train and found nothing. A few hours later, the man clarified that he made the hoax tweet under "mental stress" after his "brother's train got delayed by four hours".
read more at Times Now

Will try to punish every culprit, 100 cases filed: Srivastava on Delhi riots

Delhi Police Special Commissioner (Law and Order), SN Srivastava on Friday said that the police is trying to bring every culprit to justice in cases of violence in northeast Delhi. "We've registered more than 100 cases of riots and murders," said Srivastava. "Our effort is to give lawful punishment to anyone who participated in these riots," he added.
read more at ANI

Nirbhaya gangrape convict Pawan Gupta asks for commutation of death sentence

One of the four Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case convicts, Pawan Kumar Gupta, has asked for his death penalty to be commuted to life sentence, his lawyer said on Friday. He has filed a curative petition in Supreme Court. President Ram Nath Kovind has already dismissed the mercy petitions of the other three convicts- Mukesh, Vinay and Akshay.
read more at Hindustan Times

Tried to scare him: Policeman on running into gun-wielding man amid Delhi riots

Policeman Deepak Dahiya, at whom Shahrukh, a riot suspect, pointed a gun during violence in northeast Delhi said he tried to scare him away by showing him his baton. "He got distracted and fired one round of bullets towards the opposite road and fled from there," said Dahiya. Shahrukh was identified by the police on Monday, February 24.
read more at India.com

Man allegedly beaten to death in fresh case of violence in northeast Delhi

Sixty-year-old scrap dealer Ayub Shabbir was on Friday allegedly beaten up in what seems to be fresh case of violence in northeast Delhi's Karawal Nagar, PTI reported. Shabbir was brought to GTB Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Shabbir left his house on Friday morning and was brought home with injuries on his head and legs, said his son.
read more at Deccan Herald

Thank you, need speedy trial: Kanhaiya on Delhi govt's nod for sedition case

Former JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar has thanked the Delhi government for permitting his prosecution in the 2016 sedition case and asked for a speedy trial "in a court of law, rather than one on television". Kumar added that a speedy trial would show how sedition law has been "misused for political gains and to divert people from their basic issues".

Arrest him for inciting mob in Delhi riots: Student's union on alumnus Mishra

Delhi School of Social Work (DSSW) students' union has demanded arrest of college alumnus and BJP leader Kapil Mishra accusing him of 'organising' Delhi riots and inciting "mob to disturb communal harmony of the city". The students' union statement said, "The image of our department and social work profession has been tarnished due to [Mishra's] provocative acts and communal statements."
read more at Deccan Herald

Delhi govt gives sanction to prosecute Kanhaiya Kumar in 2016 sedition case

The Delhi government has granted sanction to prosecute Left leader and former JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar in the 2016 sedition case. The police had filed a chargesheet against Kanhaiya and others, including Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya on January 14, 2019. Kanhaiya was accused of raising alleged “anti-national” slogans at the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus on February 9, 2016
read more at Hindustan Times

46 mn people watched 'Namaste Trump' event on 180 TV channels: BARC data

The 'Namaste Trump' event was watched by 46 million people on 180 TV channels across India on Monday, according to data by Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC). As per the premier television rating agency, the event had a total of 11.69 billion viewing minutes across India. The event was held in Gujarat and over 1 lakh people attended it.
read more at The Financial Express

Supreme Court judge must probe Delhi riots: Mayawati to Prez Kovind

BSP President Mayawati on Friday wrote a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind over Delhi riots demanding a high-level judicial inquiry monitored by a Supreme Court judge. Mayawati tweeted a copy of the letter. "The ruling party...government have special duty to see that neither they do anything...nor do their [leaders] give any statement...that would lead to anarchy," the letter stated.
read more at Zee News

Rise of nationalism defining characteristic of this era: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said rise of nationalism is a defining characteristic of current era. "Painting all nationalisms with same brush is not the thinking of the nationalist," said Jaishankar. "On the contrary, it is the strategy of globalist to seek to simplify the world into an advantageous and binary proposition," he added.
read more at ANI

Ensure security at board exam centres in northeast Delhi: HC to AAP govt

The Delhi High Court has asked the AAP government and the police to respond to a plea for ensuring security at board exam centres in northeast Delhi where 43 people were killed in the riots. The court sent a notice to the authorities to ensure security is not breached. CBSE board exams were postponed for three days in northeast Delhi.
read more at Hindustan Times

Maharashtra govt to provide 5% reservation to Muslims in education

Maharashtra's Maha Vikas Aghadi government has proposed to extend 5% reservation to Muslims in educational institutes, the state's Minority Affairs Minister Nawab Malik said. A legislation in this regard will be passed soon, Malik told the State Legislative Council. He added that the government is planning to give Muslims reservation in jobs and is seeking legal advice for it.

BJP doesn't approve of Kapil Mishra, Anurag Thakur's statements: Prasad

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that BJP does not approve of the statements made by its leaders Anurag Thakur, Parvesh Verma and Kapil Mishra. This comes after Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the police to take "conscious decision" with respect to the registering of FIRs against Verma, Mishra and Thakur, for their alleged hate speeches.
read more at The Quint

Over 4.5 lakh educated but unemployed youths in Gujarat: State govt

Gujarat government on Friday told state Assembly that 4.58 lakh educated youths are registered with various state employment exchanges. Of these, 4.34 lakh are categorised as 'educated' while 23,433 are registered within 'semi-educated' category, said Gujarat Labour and Employment Minister Dilipkumar Thakor. This came in response to Congress MLAs' questions on Gujarat's unemployment scenario.
read more at The New Indian Express

13-year-old schoolgirl missing amid Delhi riots reunited with family

A 13-year-old girl who went missing after school on Monday amid violence in northeast Delhi was reunited with her family on Friday, said police officials. The girl, a resident of Sonia Vihar, went to her school in Khajuri Khas on Monday and was missing since then. Her father got caught in riots while on his way to pick her up.
read more at The Quint

No coronavirus cases yet among 106 quarantined in Maharashtra since Jan

Out of 106 people, who have been quarantined since January 18 after arriving in Maharashtra from coronavirus-hit countries, 104 have tested negative for infection, the state's health department said. The reports of two others are awaited, it added. Further, the department said, more than 57,000 travellers who arrived at the Mumbai International Airport have been screened for possible infection.
read more at The New Indian Express

SN Shrivastava appointed as new Delhi Police Commissioner, succeeds Amulya Patnaik

Days after being appointed as the Special Commissioner of Police amid violence in Northeast Delhi, SN Shrivastava has been given additional charge of the post of Delhi Police Commissioner. Srivastava succeeds Amulya Patnaik, who was criticised over handling of the violent clashes in the National Capital. At least 38 people have died in the clashes.
read more at Hindustan Times

India suspends visa-on-arrival for Japanese, S Korean nationals over coronavirus

The Home Ministry has said that visa-on-arrival facility has been temporarily suspended for Japanese and South Korean nationals amid rising coronavirus cases in both the countries. In South Korea, 2,022 people have been infected by the virus, while the number of cases in Japan has risen to more than 200. Japanese PM Shinzo Abe has asked all schools to close.
read more at Twitter

18-yr-old sends coronavirus rumour on WhatsApp after friend denies him free chicken

An 18-year-old man in Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore was arrested on Wednesday for spreading rumour on WhatsApp that coronavirus spread through chickens. The man had reportedly started the rumour after getting refused free meat at his friend's shop in Super Bazaar. In the message, he had said his other friend had fallen ill after consuming chicken from the Super Bazaar shop.

read more at The News Minute

Jaffrabad shooter who opened fire during violence was not arrested by police: Report

A man who allegedly fired eight rounds of bullets during clashes in Delhi's Jaffrabad has not been arrested by Delhi Police, a report said quoting a Delhi Police official on Thursday. Videos of the gun-wielding man had gone viral on social media, showing him firing in the air, and then confronting a police officer during the North-East Delhi violence.
read more at The Quint

He came, spoke, left & my motherland kept burning: Mamata on Trump's visit

Commenting on US President Donald Trump's India visit amid Delhi violence, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Thursday wrote on Facebook, "He (Trump) came, he spoke...he left. My Motherland kept on burning." She further added, "Disturbed, worried, troubled. The heart kept crying. Death toll kept mounting." The death toll in northeast Delhi's riots over CAA reached 38 on Thursday.
read more at Free Press Journal

Mahatma Gandhi's spirit needed more than ever: UN Chief on Delhi violence

On Delhi violence, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said that Mahatma Gandhi's spirit is needed more than ever as it is essential to create conditions for true community reconciliation. "The Secretary-General has been following the situation in India and...is saddened by the reports of deaths that we've seen over the past few days in New Delhi," Guterres' spokesman said.
read more at ANI

Don't preach us rajdharma: BJP to Sonia Gandhi over Delhi violence remarks

A day after Congress wrote to the President over Delhi violence and asked him to 'protect rajdharma', Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad criticised "politicking by Congress". "Shreemati Sonia Gandhi, don't preach us 'Rajdharma' (ruler's duty). Your record is full of rapid violations, twists, turns for...vote bank politics," said Prasad. Congress also demanded Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation.
read more at India.com

Trump told PM Modi that Pak PM asked him to mediate but he doesn't want to: Reports

US President Donald Trump told PM Narendra Modi that he doesn't intend to mediate between India and Pakistan although Pakistan PM Imran Khan has been seeking mediation by the US, reports said. Trump also reportedly reiterated India's right to defend itself when faced with terrorist attacks. India asked US to keep a close eye on Pakistan, reports added.

Consent for sex obtained after false assurances could amount to rape: Bombay HC

The Bombay High Court said that consent for sexual relation obtained by a man from a woman on assurances that he only loves her, wouldn't be considered consent. Sexual relations on such false assurances would amount to rape, it added. Court was hearing a woman's complaint, wherein she accused a man of seducing her stating that he "exclusively" loved her.
read more at Free Press Journal

Peon with MSc in Physics teaches Maths classes at Haryana govt school

At a government school in Haryana with only 19 teachers for 400 students, the school peon Kamal who holds an MSc degree in Physics doubles as the mathematics teacher for students of Class 9. "When the Maths teacher was overburdened with work, he...offered to take some classes. I've heard..the students too enjoyed his class," Deputy District Education officer said.
read more at Hindustan Times

Muslims protect temple, priest's family during clashes in Northeast Delhi

Several Muslim residents of Northeast Delhi's Mustafabad area said that they came together to protect a Hindu temple and the priest's family staying inside it to make sure they were not harmed during the recent clashes. An elderly resident said that they stayed up throughout the night and guarded the temple. The residents reportedly formed a chain around the temple.
read more at Times Now

Sub-inspector who was accused of raping 25-yr-old Mumbai model acquitted

Sub-inspector Naveen Phogat, accused of raping a 25-year-old Mumbai-based model in June 2018 at a hotel in Chandigarh's Industrial Area, was acquitted by a local court on Thursday after the complainant failed to identify him in court. The prosecution also couldn't prove the allegations against Phogat, who was probing a fraud case registered by the model at that time.
read more at Hindustan Times

30-yr-old Delhi woman kicked in abdomen by rioters gives birth to 'miracle baby'

A 30-year-old woman, who was beaten up and kicked in the abdomen by rioters in violence-hit Northeast Delhi, gave birth to a baby boy whom her family calls 'miracle baby'. The woman's family said their house has been burned down in the violence. "I'll take care of him forever and save him from every ill," the baby's six-year-old brother said.
read more at PTI

Muslim brothers protecting me: Hindu bride weds in violence-hit Northeast Delhi

A 23-year-old Hindu woman got married on Wednesday in violence-hit Northeast Delhi's Chand Bagh area after her wedding was postponed by a day. The woman's father organised the wedding, saying his Muslim neighbours were family and he was comforted by their presence. Meanwhile, on her wedding day, the bride said, "My Muslim brothers are protecting me today."
read more at The Quint

Not asking why Tahir but why 'only' Tahir: Javed on suspended AAP councillor

Questioning the FIR against AAP's suspended councillor Tahir Hussain, lyricist Javed Akhtar tweeted, "Police have sealed only one house...incidentally, his name is Tahir." After users trolled him, Javed said in another tweet that he is not asking why Tahir but asking "why only Tahir". "Why not...FIR against those who have openly threatened violence in the presence of police," he wrote.
read more at Zee News

Bangladeshi student gets 'Leave India Notice' over anti-govt activities

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked Bangladeshi student Afsara Anika Meem studying at West Bengal's Visva-Bharati University to leave India for "engaging in anti-government activities". The 'Leave India Notice' served by Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) does not specify the anti-government acts concerned and asks Meem to leave India by February 29.
read more at Twitter

PM woke up after 69 hrs and appealed for peace: Sibal on Delhi violence

Commenting on Delhi riots over CAA, Congress leader Kapil Sibal took a jibe at PM Narendra Modi and said that he "woke up after 69 hours" and appealed for peace and calm in Delhi. "He should have done it earlier. But Home Minister Amit Shah made no such appeal," Sibal added. "Shah should have visited...affected areas," he further said.
read more at Twitter

Concerted efforts of govt, RBI changing the mood: Sitharaman on economy

Commenting on India's economic situation, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that "concerted efforts" of government and RBI are gradually "changing the mood". "Monthly ups and downs...shouldn't worry...FDI inflows...keeping steady...foreign exchange reserves...doing very well," she added. Sitharaman further said RBI is coming out with steps that would be treated as a "stimulus" to growth.
read more at The Financial Express

Riots keep happening, they're part of life: Haryana minister

Commenting on Delhi riots over CAA, Haryana Power Minister Ranjit Chautala on Thursday said that "riots keep happening" and "are part of life". "They...happened in the past too...when Indira Gandhi was assassinated...Delhi was burning," he added. "The government is controlling this matter vigilantly...curfew had been imposed at all places (in Delhi) yesterday (Wednesday)," Chautala further said.

₹5K for info on Pakistani, Bangladeshi infiltrators: MNS' posters

Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has put up posters in Aurangabad announcing a cash reward of ₹5,000 to those who give information on infiltrators from Pakistan and Bangladesh. The posters carry Thackeray's photo. Earlier this month, MNS had put up posters in Raigad threatening illegal Bangladeshi immigrants of action if they don't leave India.
read more at India.com

Where was Amit Shah when Delhi was burning, asks Shiv Sena

The Shiv Sena, in its mouthpiece Saamana, criticised Home Minister Amit Shah saying he was seen nowhere when the national capital was burning. "When Delhi was burning and when people were showcasing their anger, where was Home Minister Amit Shah? What was he doing? These questions are being raised," the Shiv Sena asked.
read more at The Financial Express

4 of a family found dead in Ghaziabad, suicide note recovered

Bodies of four persons of a family including two children were found in a house in Ghaziabad's Arthala area on Friday. A suicide note was also recovered from the spot and 'financial burden' is said to be the reason behind suicide. Dheeraj Tyagi, a tenant living in Sanjay Colony, allegedly committed suicide after killing his wife and two children.
read more at ANI

72-yr-old woman locked inside house for 8 months, shifted to old age home

A 72-year-old woman in Telangana on Thursday was rescued and shifted to an old age home after remaining locked in her house for eight months, police said. Her husband had left for his native village in Andhra Pradesh after locking the house. The woman survived on food and water provided by her landlord through a window, police added.
read more at India.com

There was 'clinching evidence' against Asthana in bribery case: Official

There was "clinching evidence" against former CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana in the 2018 bribery case in which he was given a clean chit by the CBI on February 12, the former investigating officer in the case told a Delhi court. Ajay Kumar Bassi added the current investigating officer, Satish Dagar, was "trying to save Asthana" and other public servants.
read more at India.com

SC grants anticipatory bail to Hardik Patel in Patidar agitation case

Supreme Court on Friday granted anticipatory bail to Congress leader Hardik Patel till March 6 in 2015 case relating to alleged violence and an FIR during his Patidar rally in Gujarat. "The case was lodged in 2015...investigation is still pending...you can't sit on the case for...five years," SC said. It also restrained Gujarat Police from arresting Patel.
read more at Zee News

MP government to open 'women-friendly' liquor shops: Reports

Kamal Nath-led Congress government in Madhya Pradesh has reportedly decided to open 'women-friendly' liquor shops in the state. As per reports, these liquor shops will sell wine and whiskey of those brands that are popular among women. Reportedly, two such shops in Bhopal and Indore, and one each in Jabalpur and Gwalior have been planned.
read more at Free Press Journal

For Pak, employment of terrorism against India a low-cost option: Rajnath

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that for Pakistan, employment of terrorism against India is a "low-cost option". "We've taught Pakistan a lesson...through Balakot [airstrikes] we've indicated that terrorist camps across LoC are no longer secure place for terrorists," he added. Rajnath further said Balakot airstrikes have forced "rewriting of doctrines" across the border.
read more at The Quint