India News | Congress cheating voters by giving false assurances: Bommai

"Our government is fully committed to giving reservation to the Maratha community. We will do whatever it takes. We are working on the suggestions given by the Bhosle committee," said Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde.

 BJP MLA from Wangjing Tentha assembly constituency, P Brojen Singh today tendered his resignation as chairman of Manipur Development Society. Manipur BJP has called a high-level meeting tomorrow.

Twenty-two people were injured in a fire incident in a residential building located in the Bichali Ghat area of Kolkata, today. The fire is suspected to have been caused due to a cylinder blast.

Rashtriya Lok Janta Dal president Upendra Kushwaha on Thursday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi.

After this terror attack on an Army Vehicle in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district in which five jawans were martyred, security beefed up across Jammu and Kashmir. Multiple cordon and search operations are underway in the union territory.

Light showers brought some respite from the scorching heat in North India on Thursday as the mercury dipped by few notches in several states, including Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. 

"Congress party is cheating voters by giving false assurances. Congress leaders of this region failed to do any development work here in the last five years. This time there is a pro-BJP wave here. The PM had promised to provide tap water connection to every household. Till now, 40 lakh houses have got tap water connections in the state," Karnataka CM and BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai at a public rally in Afzalpur, Kalaburagi district.

No state has less than 30 per cent household coverage of tap water connection in rural India and there is no habitation in the country which does not have portable drinking water at least to the extent needed for cooking and drinking, a senior official said.

Maharashtra government announces early summer vacation for primary, middle and higher secondary schools of State board from 21st April, in view of heatwave conditions.

"Today, at approximately 1500 hours, one Army vehicle, moving between Bhimber Gali and Poonch in the Rajauri sector was fired on by unidentified terrorists, taking advantage of heavy rains and low visibility in the area. The vehicle caught fire, due to likely use of grenades by terrorists," Army said.

It added, "Five personnel of the Rashtriya Rifles Unit deployed for Counter Terrorist operations, in this area, have unfortunately lost their lives in the incident. Another seriously injured soldier was evacuated immediately to the Army Hospital at Rajauri and is under treatment. Operations are in progress to locate the perpetrators."
 

1,113 new cases and 3 deaths were reported in Maharashtra today. The present active cases stand at 6,129.

Five Army soldiers were killed on Thursday after their vehicle caught fire while moving from Bhimber Gali to Sangiot in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. officials said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "Anguished by the tragedy in Poonch District (J&K), where the Indian Army lost its brave soldiers after a truck caught fire. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with the bereaved families."

Assam and Arunachal Pradesh governments have signed an agreement for the settlement of an inter-state boundary dispute in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and Arunachal Pradesh CM Prema Khandu.

"The signing of an agreement for the settlement of an inter-state boundary dispute between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh is a very big achievement. Today, we have crossed the milestone for the establishment of a developed, peaceful and conflict-free northeast," Union Home Minister Amit Shah said.

Special court in Ahmedabad acquits all accused in 2002 Naroda Gam riots case of Gujarat.

#BREAKING | 2002 Gujarat riots: Maya Kodnani and Babu Bajrangi who are among the accuse have now been acquitted in Naroda Gam massacre case.#2002GujaratRiots #NarodaGamMassacrecase #NarodaGamhttps://t.co/JBOJSkzT7L pic.twitter.com/fG5c8hp9Jr

— Republic (@republic)

Maharashtra LoP Ajit Pawar has written to CM Eknath Shinde, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis regarding an incident of video shooting of a rap song with allegedly objectionable and abusive lyrics on the premises of the Savitribai Phule Pune University

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday appointed a one-member committee to probe the deaths of 14 persons in the Maharashtra Bhushan award event held in Kharghar in Navi Mumbai on April 16.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Thursday met the family of a suicide victim who had named Rajasthan Minister Mahesh Joshi for taking the extreme step.

The ruling Trinamool Congress on Thursday announced a new mass outreach programme with an eye on the upcoming panchayat elections in West Bengal.
 

On the question of Amritpal Singh's wife Kirandeep Kaur was "not permitted to travel" to the UK from Amritsar Airport, MEA said, "It is not a foreign policy issue."

On the question of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala's murder accused Anmol Bishnoi being spotted partying and dancing at a wedding reception in the US, an MEA spokesperson said, "We will check the update but in September he was detained."

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar is in New York and will be meeting with UN General Secretary on the Sudan crisis, said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

On the Sudan crisis, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "The situation on the ground continues to be very tense. Our focus is on ensuring the safety of the individuals. We are in touch with people through different channels."

Indian Army vehicle caught fire on Rajouri Poonch National Highway. The incident was reported in the Tota Gali area of Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch. According to sources, several jawans of the Indian Army were injured.

Bandra Unit of Anti Narcotics Cell of Mumbai Police arrested 2 drug peddlers from Mumbai's Dongri area and recovered MD drugs from them worth Rs 34 lakh in the international market. Police registered a case against the drug peddler under the NDPS Act and arrested him, said Mumbai Police.

"BJP party is my mother and I can never cheat my mother. I'm not angry with the BJP party for not giving a ticket to my son and I will never betray my mother. Jagadish Shettar is a cheater and he enjoyed all the positions in the party but jumped ship to the Congress for selfish reasons," said BJP leader KS Eshwarappa.

UP SIT Team recreates Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf's killing crime scene in Prayagraj.

During a press conference, BJP leader Sambit Patra said, "Today’s judgment clarified that the constitution triumphs in India not dynastic politics. This is a slap on the face of the Gandhi family. Today, the Surat court proved that the law is the same for everyone and no one is above it. This is a blow to the arrogance of the Gandhi family and a victory for the common people of India."

'Not a death of democracy, it's a blow on the arrogance of Rahul Gandhi,' BJP holds news briefing as Surat Court rejects Rahul Gandhi's plea for stay on conviction in the 2019 defamation case.#SuratCourt #RahulGandhi #Congress #RahulGandhiDefamationCasehttps://t.co/M82VKTXS7b pic.twitter.com/3UHriJjHQ0

— Republic (@republic)

Launching a scathing attack on Congress for selecting Imran Pratapgarhi as a star campaigner for the upcoming Karnataka assembly elections 2023, BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje said, "Gangster Atiq Ahmed & Ashraf were his (Imran Pratapgarhi) friends. Imran used to call them brothers. Congress has kept him on the list of star campaigners for Karnataka polls, which shows Congress is in support of criminals and anti-nationals."

#WATCH | Gangster Atiq Ahmed & Ashraf were his (Imran Pratapgarhi) friends. Imran used to call them brothers... Congress has kept him on the list of star campaigners for Karnataka polls, which shows Congress is in support of criminals and anti-nationals: BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje pic.twitter.com/O3vpXNWSTB

— ANI (@ANI)

UP Special Investigation Team to recreate Atiq Ahmed, Ashraf's killing crime scene in Prayagraj on Thursday. The judicial commission is currently present at the spot. 

#BREAKING | #LIVE visuals from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh where Judicial Commission team is present at the moment. Investigation team will recreate the crime scene.#Prayagraj #UttarPradesh#AtiqAhmed https://t.co/eXvEQjOGv6 pic.twitter.com/7wN6eopYKQ

— Republic (@republic)

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will be on a visit to India on 4-5 May 2023. He will be taking part in the SCO meeting that is scheduled to take place in Goa. Read Full Story Here

#BREAKING | Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto to visit India for 2 days from May 4 for SCO meet.#BilawalBhutto #ForeignMinister #Pakistan https://t.co/2YPWk1bkWH pic.twitter.com/Fqtv6PGMWl

— Republic (@republic)

Gautam Adani met Sharad Pawar at the latter's residence Silver Oak in Mumbai on Thursday, April 20. 

#BREAKING | Gautam Adani meets NCP chief Sharad Pawar at his residence in Mumbai. It is the first official meeting of Adani and Pawar.#GautamAdani #SharadPawar #NCP #Mumbaihttps://t.co/M82VKTXS7b pic.twitter.com/JQSVReb2kw

— Republic (@republic)

A Punjab Police source has clarified that Amritpal Singh's wife Kirandeep Kaur has not been detained yet but is being questioned by the Immigration Department, more details awaited.

Slain gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed's backer Imran Pratapgarhi is a Congress' star campaigner in poll-bound Karnataka. Pratapgarhi was seen with mafia don Atiq Ahmed.

#LIVE | Battleground Karnataka: Congress leader Imran Pratapgarhi, who is also the star campaigner of the party seen with deceased mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed.#AtiqAhmed #KarnatakaElection2023 #Karnataka #ImranPratapgarhihttps://t.co/M82VKTXS7b pic.twitter.com/ocDSIDZcEF

— Republic (@republic)

Republic TV accessed the Surat Court order copy which dismissed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's plea for stay on conviction in the 2019 'Modi surname' defamation case. 

#BREAKING | Republic accesses Surat Court order copy which dismisses Rahul Gandhi's plea for stay on conviction in the 2019 defamation case.#RahulGandhi #Congress #SuratCourt #RahulGandhiDefamationCasehttps://t.co/M82VKTXS7b pic.twitter.com/lRCvcrg2DN

— Republic (@republic)

Assam Youth Congress leader Angkita Dutta formally lodged a complaint against IYC president Srinivas BV with Assam Police. The complaint has been lodged at Dispur Police Station. Police sources said that they are following the laid down procedure. 

Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh's wife Kirandeep Kaur was detained at Amritsar Airport while she was trying to fly to London. 

#BREAKING | Big catch by Police as Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh's wife Kirandeep Kaur detained at Amritsar Airport.#AmritpalSingh #WarisPunjabDe #AmritsarAirport #PunjabPolice https://t.co/M82VKTXS7b pic.twitter.com/8BzX4ZqYX6

— Republic (@republic)

Appearing for Aaradhya Bachchan Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan submitted that plaintiff isn’t seeking censorship of content on YouTube before it’s uploaded but that in view of the more stringent nature of responsibility of the intermediary in amended IT rules, the intermediary immediately on being informed should proceed to take it down without any lapse of time. 

The court will examine this aspect on next date

The Delhi High Court said, "However, defendant 10 Google LLC is directed in its response to this plaint and the IA to set out in detail its policy, so as to ensure it remains in compliance with Rule 3(1)b of the IT Rules 2021, as also whether after amended of said rules in October 2022, they have affected any change in its policy to bring it in line with the amendments."

"Court may have to examine whether their existing policy is sufficient to ensure compliance with amended rule 3(1)b, In its very act as an intermediary, its duty bound to act in compliance with entire statutory regime with which its governed which would include amended IT Rules," it added. 

Reprimanding YouTube counsel, Delhi High Court said, "This court has seen the images and clips. Though it's not the first time such misleading information is circulated for celebrities, when circulated for the Child, it reflects a morbid perversity on part of those circulating in complete apathy to the interests of the child."

The court further said, "Every child is entitled to be treated with honour and respect, be it a child of a celebrity or of the common person. Dissemination of misleading information to a child especially as regards physical and mental health is completely intolerable in law."

A session court in Gujarat's Surat rejected the application filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi seeking a stay on his conviction in the 2019 defamation case on 'Modi surname' remark.

"How can this be tolerated? You are providing a platform on which misleading information is being provided to the public," Delhi High Court said to YouTube counsel. 

"You have the responsibility to see that proper information is disseminated. Why don't you have a policy in matters like this?" Delhi HC told to the counsel for youtube:

After Aaradhya Bachchan, daughter of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan, moved the Delhi High Court against YouTube channels for spreading fake news about her health, the hearing has been commenced by Justice C Hari Shankar. Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan is appearing for Aaradhya Bachchan.
 

As Karnataka inches closer to Assembly elections, the I-T department seized unaccounted 1.54 crores in Belagavi. 

#LIVE | Battleground Karnataka: Mega cash seizure in Belagavi ahead of the state Assembly polls. Large amount of cash seized by Karnataka police.#KarnatakaElection2023 #Karnataka https://t.co/JBOJSkzlid pic.twitter.com/OC7RmGxEyG

— Republic (@republic)

Visva Bharati University (VBU) in an eviction order has asked Nobel laureate Amartya Sen to vacate the 13 decimals of land which he has been allegedly occupying in an unauthorised manner by May 6 or within 15 days of the publication of the last order on April 19.

Visva Bharati University in an eviction order has asked Nobel laureate Amartya Sen to vacate the 13 decimals of land which he has been allegedly occupying in an unauthorised manner. pic.twitter.com/hfgMqfJRbd

— ANI (@ANI)

Apple Inc on Thursday, April 20 inaugurated its second retail store in Delhi's Saket after the first store in Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex. Apple CEO Tim Cook inaugurated the store, which is a significant investment for the company. Here's the first look at the Apple Saket store: 

#LIVE | Apple CEO Tim Cook inaugurates first Apple store in National Capital and second retail store in India. Republic #LIVE from Delhi's Select City Walk Mall in Saket.#AppleStore #Delhi #Saket #SelectCitywalk #TimCook #AppleCEOhttps://t.co/FTf5YLElfk pic.twitter.com/PFRGoN0tBe

— Republic (@republic)

Amid the scorching summer across India, heatwave conditions will prevail in certain parts of the country on April 20. According to the India Meteorological Department, parts of Bihar and West Bengal will experience "heatwave to severe heatwave" conditions on Thursday. The weather forecasting agency also predicted heatwave conditions for isolated pockets over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Odisha, and Jharkhand. Read Full Story Here 

Amid severe heatwave conditions, the Naveen Patnaik-led Odisha government has preponed summer vacations from tomorrow, April 21 for all government, private, and aided schools for classes up to 12. 

In view of the prevailing heatwave situation, Odisha Government has preponed summer vacation from tomorrow, April 21 for all government, private and Aided Schools for classes up to Class 12: State Government

— ANI (@ANI)

Apple inaugurated its second retail store in Delhi's Select Citywalk Mall in Saket on Thursday, April 20. 

#LIVE | Apple to open India's second retail store in Delhi today. People stand in queues at Delhi's Select City Walk Mall in Saket. Republic reports #LIVE from 'Apple Saket', National Capital.#AppleStore #Delhi #Saket #SelectCitywalk #TimCook #AppleCEOhttps://t.co/JBOJSkzlid pic.twitter.com/D7t3VGKh9Z

— Republic (@republic)

Members of the Judicial Commission will reach Prayagraj on Thursday to investigate the murder of Mafia-don Atiq Ahmed. The Judicial Commission has been formed on the instructions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. There are a total of three members in this inquiry commission. Members of the commission can go to the crime scene to investigate the murder.

Stadium-type atmosphere in Select Citywalk Mall in Saket ahead of the 'Apple Saket' store launch. 

#WATCH | People stand in queues at Delhi's Select City Walk Mall in Saket to witness the opening of India’s second Apple Store. pic.twitter.com/9mwk5gZmlu

— ANI (@ANI)

India recorded 12,591 new cases and 10,827 recoveries in 24 hours; the active caseload currently stands at 65,286. 

#COVID19 | India records 12,591 new cases and 10,827 recoveries in 24 hours; active caseload stands at 65,286

(Representative image) pic.twitter.com/94HJBPQgXe

— ANI (@ANI)

Days after the inauguration of Apple’s first store in India in Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), the company will be opening its second store in the national capital on Thursday, April 20. Apple CEO Tim Cook is all set to inaugurate the tech giant's second retail store, called the 'Apple Saket' in New Delhi on Thursday. ‘Apple Saket’ is located at the Select Citywalk Mall and will open for customers at 10:00 am. Read Full Story Here

The Supreme Court on Thursday will enter into day 3 of its hearing on a bunch of at least 15 petitions seeking legal validation on same-sex marriages. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the inaugural session of the Global Buddhist Summit in the national capital on Thursday, April 20. The event is slated to commence at 10 am at Hotel Ashok in Delhi. The two-day Summit is being hosted by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with International Buddhist Confederation (IBC). 

In another attempt to lionise the slain gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed, the Samajwadi Party leader Shafiqur Rehman said, "Atiq's killing is an atrocity and grave injustice has been done to Atiq. The state must ensure Atiq's minor sons don't get killed."

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh governments will be signed on Thursday, April 20 to resolve the long pending border dispute between both states in New Delhi in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The Assam cabinet on Wednesday approved the recommendations given by 12 Regional Committees formed by the state government to resolve the decades-long border dispute issue with Arunachal Pradesh.

Union Minister for Environment Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav released Cubs in the arena of the White Tiger enclosure at Zoological Park in Delhi on Thursday, April 20. 

#WATCH | Union Minister Bhupender Yadav releases Cubs in the arena of white tiger enclosure at Zoological Park in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/9tCnCuiWG9

— ANI (@ANI)

A session court in Gujarat's Surat would pronounce its order on Thursday regarding Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's plea for a stay to his conviction in a criminal defamation case over his "Modi surname" remark. The order will be significant for Rahul Gandhi and a stay will lead to his reinstatement as Lok Sabha MP. 

The Congress leader was convicted by the Surat lower court and sentenced to prison for two years last month in the case filed by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi under sections 499 and 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code. A day later, he was disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha which sparked a huge protest by Congress and other Opposition parties.