Breaking news on February 20

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday. Thackeray will also meet Congress interim president, Sonia Gandhi.

Sharjeel Imam has been sent to 4-day police remand by a local court in Guwahati. 

Observing that rallies and public meetings act as a safety valve, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Thursday said police cannot refuse permission for a public meeting simply on the ground that it would create a law and order problem.

Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, who was recently expelled by the Shiromani Akali Dal, on Thursday said religious bodies like the Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee should be kept out of politics.

Case registered under Sec124A (Offence of sedition) of the Indian Penal Code against Amulya, the woman who raised 'Pakistan zindabad' slogan at anti-CAA rally in Bengaluru today. Police to interrogate her. She will be produced before a court after her interrogation.

Delhi High Court allows Crime Branch of Delhi Police to conduct the questioning of Sanjeev Chawla, who was allegedly involved in a match-fixing racket that was busted by Delhi Police in 2000.

"Sanjeev Chawla will be kept in Tihar Jail during the entire stage of pre-trial detention and trial and cannot be allowed to be taken out of the Tihar Jail complex for the purpose of investigation or interrogation in police custody", the court said.

SAP, a German software group, has decided to shut down all offices in India after two of its employees in Bengaluru tested positive for the H1N1 virus or Swine Flu.n Bengaluru

Ayodhya Ram Temple trust board members leave after their meeting with PM Narendra Modi at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg ends.

Sadhna Ramachandran, Supreme Court-appointed mediator said, Our mediation talks are continuing and we will come back again tomorrow to Shaheen Bagh.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing concern over "steady reduction" of central funds to the state and "inordinate delay" in their release.

In her letter, Banerjee asserted that despite that the state's GSDP grew by 10.4 percent against the national GDP growth of 5 percent in 2019-20.

"I write to you with deep concern regarding steady reduction of central funds to the state and also inordinate delay in release of funds to us from the Government of India," Banerjee said in the letter.

Union Cabinet Minister for Textiles and Women & Child Development Smriti Irani visits 'Hunar Haat' at India Gate.

Kerala Transport Min on Tirupur bus mishap said, Kerala State Road Transport Corp to give Rs 10 lakh as compensation to families of the deceased. Rs 2 lakh to be given immediately as emergency aid. Insurance amt of Rs 30 lakh each to be given to families of the deceased KSRTC employees.

Waris Pathan, AIMIM leader, said, "Waris Pathan is the last person who will speak against any religion or the country. My statement is being misconstrued and twisted. I am not apologizing. It is BJP which is trying to segregate Indians". 

Central Crime Branch (CCB) has conducted a raid at Kings Court service apartment/lodge; 2 women rescued, 2 accused arrested, 2 others absconding. Case registered in Hebbala police station.

BJP President JP Nadda to visit Bihar on 22nd February. During his visit to Bihar, he will meet Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, inaugurate 11 district offices of the party and hold discussions with party leaders on preparations for Bihar Legislative Assembly polls.

A Muslim man on Thursday has been chosen as the head of a Lingayat mutt in north Karnataka. Diwan Sharief Mulla is in his thirties and comes from a family that respects the teachings of Basava, the 12th Century founder of the Lingayat faith.

Raveesh Kumar, MEA on upcoming US President Donald Trump's visit said, "There is strong cooperation between India and the US on counter-terrorism. We hope this cooperation will strengthen".

"There will be talks on regional issues," he added.

Central Industrial Security Force: CISF apprehended a passenger who was carrying 10 gold biscuits wrapped with black tape weighing about 1.166 kg (worth approximately Rs 38 lakhs) concealed in his handbag at the Calicut Airport. The passenger was handed over to customs officials.

Delhi: Sanjay Hegde and Sadhana Ramachandran — mediators appointed by Supreme Court reach Shaheen Bagh. They are here for talks with the protesters for the second day.

Punjab Congress MLA Raj Kumar Verka has said Navjot Singh Sidhu is in Congress and will remain in Congress. They (AAP) don't have a face so they are getting desperate. Congress leader's statement has come amid speculations that Navjot Singh Sidhu might resign from the Congress party. 

Earlier, Aam Aadmi Party MP Bhagwant Mann on being asked if there are any chances of Navjot Singh Sidhu joining the party said, "He is an honest man. Every person who loves Punjab and wants to work for the welfare of the State is welcome. There have been no official talks with him so far."

The Japanese Health Ministry is currently holding a press conference following two deaths on Coronavirus-hit cruise ship Diamond Princess.

An Assistant Commandant of the Border Security Force (BSF) on Thursday allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle inside a camp in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

V B Yadav of the 90th Battalion was posted in Karal Krishna Border Post area along the International Border. He shot himself inside his room at 8:45 am, the officials said.

They said the motive behind his taking such an extreme step was not known immediately. A case has been registered.

First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump to visit a Delhi government school during the Delhi leg of the visit of US President Donald Trump to India, on February 24-25, ANI sources say.

The Manipur state education board cancelled the class 11 final exams after question papers of at least five subjects were leaked, a senior official said on Thursday.

Question papers of Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Biology and Manipuri were leaked, Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur (COHSEM) secretary Ch Biren Singh told PTI.

The final examinations, which began on February 17, of all streams of class 11 have been cancelled as "concrete evidence regarding the leakage" was found, COHSEM chairman L Mahendra said.

An FIR has been registered against Uttar Pradesh BJP MLA Surendra Singh's son and his supporters for allegedly manhandling a Dalit revenue official here, police said on Thursday.

On a complaint lodged by the official Radheyshyam Ram, the FIR has been registered against Hazari Singh and 10 others on Wednesday for manhandling and abusing him, Bairiya SHO Sanjay Tripathi said.

All the accused have been booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code along with the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the SHO added.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) have sought time due to the pendency of Letters rogatory (formal request from a court to a foreign court for some judicial assistance) in several countries in the Aircel Maxis case. The court has adjourned the matter for May 4.

No further jail term for Ansal brothers as SC dismisses curative plea filed by victims' association in 1997 Uphaar fire tragedy case.

At least 15 people died after a Kerala state transport bus met with an accident in Tamil Nadu ​Coimbatore. The bus was travelling to Kerala's Ernakulam from Bengaluru. The accident occured when the bus was crossing Coimbatore city.

As per reports, the incident took place around 3:15 am when a tyre of a speeding truck burst after which it lost control and hit the bus.

Amid the economic slowdown in the country, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said India's target of achieving $5 trillion economy by 2024 is a 'wishful thinking.'