India

Mumbai, Mar 1 (PTI) Congress president Rahul Gandhi Friday challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold a press conference and answer questions of the public.

Since he became the PM in 2014, Modi has not held a press conference in all this time, Gandhi said, addressing a public rally here.

"I address press conferences; have you seen the 'chowkidar' addressing a press conference? He is not only a 'chor' (thief) but also 'darpok' (coward)," Gandhi said.

Berhampur (Odisha), Mar 1 (PTI) A 45-year-old man was arrested Friday for allegedly raping his 13-year-old daughter repeatedly for a month in Ganjam district of Odisha, police said.

The man was arrested on the basis of a complaint lodged by the victim, a student of class 8, on Thursday, Inspector-In-Charge of Bhanjanagar Police Station S K Sahu said.

The accused was booked under various sections of the IPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) A non-resident Indian was arrested from the IGI airport here for allegedly raping a woman he had met on a matrimonial site in 2017, police said Friday.

The accused has been identified as Ravinder Singh, a native of Jalandhar district in Punjab, they said.

According to police, the woman filed a case on March 27, 2018 stating that she came in contact with Singh through the matrimonial website.

New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) The chiefs of the Indian Air Force and Navy will get Z-plus security cover after a fresh assessment of their threat perception by the security agencies, officials said.

The decision was taken after a thorough review of the threat perception of IAF chief Air Marshal B S Dhanoa and chief of Naval staff Admiral Sunil Lanba in the wake of heightened tension with Pakistan.

The chiefs of Air Staff and Naval Staff will be given the Z-plus security, a government official said.

New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman landed in Delhi Friday night, hours after he was handed over to India by Pakistan after being in captivity for nearly three days.

A group of people gave a rousing welcome to him at the Palam airport, from where he would be taken to a medical facility for examination.

He was handed over to Indian authorities at Attari-Wagah border Friday evening.

Lucknow, Feb 28 (PTI) BSP chief Mayawati Thursday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his proposed address to BJP workers through a mega video-conference, terming it "ridiculous and betrayal of national sentiments" amid escalating tension between India and Pakistan.

Under the BJP's 'Mera Booth Sabse Mazboot' programme, Modi is slated to have direct dialogue with about a crore BJP workers, volunteers and others through the "world's largest video conference" at noon on Thursday.

Kolkata, Feb 28 (PTI) The widow of slain CRPF personnel Bablu Santra Thursday urged both India and Pakistan to hold talks instead of escalating tensions.

She also urged the Narendra Modi government to ensure the safe release of Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, captured by Pakistan on Wednesday.

Chandigarh, Feb 28 (PTI) Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu Thursday insisted that dialogue and diplomatic pressure will count for in seeking a long-term solution to terror outfits operating across the border, amid strain in India-Pakistan ties in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack and subsequent developments.

New Delhi, Feb 28 (PTI) Railways has cancelled the operations of the Indo-Pak Samjhauta Express on its side from Thursday, which senior officials said was due to "purely operational reasons" as Pakistan had suspended services from across the border.

A notification in this regard was issued here.

Patna, Feb 28 (PTI) The ruling Janata Dal (United) in Bihar, an ally of the BJP, Thursday cautioned against "social media jingoism and mindless warmongering" that are being mistaken for bravery.

Invoking Mahatma Gandhi, JD(U) national vice president Prashant Kishor said #SayNoToWar, which has been trending on microblogging site Twitter ever since tension with Pakistan escalated, is not cowardice.

#SayNoToWar is not cowardice. The Father of the Nation was opposed to any war and he certainly was no coward.