India

Kolkata, Mar 6; PTI/GANASHAKTI: AICC president Rahul Gandhi will speak with CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury to resolve the impasse over seat-sharing between the two parties in West Bengal, Congress leaders said here Wednesday.

This comes hours after state Congress president Somen Mitra and chairman of the state coordination committee Pradip Bhattacharya met Gandhi in New Delhi and discussed the issue, among other matters.

Two Lok Sabha seats held by the CPI(M) - Raiganj and Murshidabad - have stonewalled the seat-sharing talks between the two parties.

New Delhi, March 5; GANASHAKTI: The Central Trade Unions and independent federations organised a workers convention at Constitutional Club Annexe on 5th March, 2019, with a view to adopt a Workers Charter of Demands to be placed in the electoral process about to begin for constitution of 17th Lok Sabha.

The Convention began by observing a minute’s silence to pay homage to the Pulwama martyrs of a terrorist attack.

New Delhi, Mar 6 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi donated Rs 21 lakh from his personal savings to the corpus fund for the welfare of sanitation workers of Kumbh Mela, his office said Wednesday.

The PM had felicitated sanitation workers who ensured cleanliness during the Kumbh recently by washing their feet. He also interacted with the sanitation workers, describing them as "real karma-yogis" whose contributions are being lauded all over.

New Delhi, Mar 6 (PTI) The Supreme Court Wednesday reserved its order on whether the politically sensitive Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute can be settled through mediation.

A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi heard the contesting parties.

The bench also comprising Justices S A Bobde, D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S A Nazeer heard submissions from various Hindu and Muslim bodies involved in the matter.

New Delhi, Mar 6 (PTI) Indore was Wednesday adjudged India's cleanest city for the third straight year in the central government's cleanliness survey.

The Swachh Survekshan awards 2019 were conferred by President Ram Nath Kovind at a ceremony here.

While the New Delhi Municipal Council area was given the 'Cleanest Small City' award, Uttarakhand's Gauchar was adjudged the 'Best Ganga Town' in the central government survey.

The cleanliness awards are given by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

New Delhi, Mar 6 (PTI) The Congress Wednesday alleged corruption and malfeasance in the Rafale fighter jet deal and said the time has come to lodge an FIR against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The corruption and malfeasance in Rafale deal is out in the open. PM Modi misused his office to give benefits to Dassault Aviation and caused loss to the public exchequer," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told reporters.

Chandigarh, Mar 6 (PTI) Farmers squatting on the Amritsar-Delhi rail tracks Wednesday called off their agitation following the intervention of the high court, which asked the state government to look into their demands.

During resumed hearing on a PIL filed by Patiala resident Mohit Kapoor, the court of Chief Justice Krishna Murari and Justice Arun Palli asked the farmers' leaders to submit their demands within 24 hours to the Advocate General, Punjab, and posted the matter for March 19.

Kochi, Mar 6 (PTI) Kerala BJP general secretary K Surendran Wednesday moved the high court seeking to withdraw his election petition challenging the victory of UDF nominee P B Abdul Razak from Majeshwaram constituency in the 2016 assembly polls by 86 votes.

If the court allows the plea, it will pave the way for a bypoll to the constituency as Razak died in October last year.

Bengaluru, Mar 6 (PTI) Stung by the Prime Minister's jibe that he was remote controlled by the Congress, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Wednesday retorted that Narendra Modi should gather enough information about the state, "which has the best programmes in the country,"before speaking in public.

"I never stabbed (anybody) like the BJP did''.

Sant Kabir Nagar (UP), Mar 6 (PTI) Two elected representatives of the ruling BJP came to blows during the district planning committee meeting here Wednesday evening in full public glare.

The incident took place when the planning committee meeting was underway at the collectorate in the presence of minister in-charge of the district, Ashutosh Tandon.