HIGHLIGHTS AT 5 PM

New Delhi, Feb 24 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 5 pm: NATION BOM22 MP-PM-2ND LD ECONOMY

It's time to invest in MP: PM Modi, cites its talent pool and booming industries Bhopal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said with a strong talent pool and thriving industries, Madhya Pradesh is becoming a preferred business destination and that this is the time, and right time, to invest in the state.

DEL36 USAID-REAX

Official report exposes govt's 'lies', says Congress; BJP accuses it of defending 'covert interference' New Delhi: The Congress on Monday cited a Union Finance Ministry report on the USAID-funded projects in India to claim that it has thoroughly exposed the government's "lies", prompting the BJP to accuse the opposition party of defending "covert interference" by foreign donors seeking to destabilise India's democracy.

DEL38 CONG-KHARGE-ASSAM

BJP set up factory of 'jumlas' in Assam, CM its 'mastermind': Kharge New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday attacked the BJP for "misgovernance" in Assam and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had set up a factory of 'jumlas' in the eastern state with the chief minister as its "mastermind".

DEL28 DL-ASSEMBLY-LD SPEAKER

Vijender Gupta elected Delhi Assembly speaker, AAP slams BJP as 'anti-Dalit and anti-Sikh' New Delhi: The Delhi Assembly was adjourned for 15 minutes on Monday following Vijender Gupta's election as speaker amid sloganeering from both the treasury and the opposition benches, with AAP members accusing the BJP being "anti-Dalit and anti-Sikh".

DEL29 PRIYANKA-PM-WAYANAD

Wayanad MP Priyanka writes to PM Modi, seeks conversion of relief package into grant New Delhi: Congress MP Priyanka Gandh Vadra on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, apprising him about the hardships being faced by the people of Wayanad while trying to rebuild their lives after the devastating landslides last year and urging him to convert the government's relief package into a grant.

BOM21 MH-NAIK-JANTA DARBAR

Amid buzz of differences, BJP minister Ganesh Naik holds 'janata darbar' in Shinde stronghold Thane Thane: BJP leader and Forest Minister Ganesh Naik on Monday held a janta darbar in Thane, the home turf of Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, rejecting speculation of one-upmanship in the Mahayuti alliance.

BOM24 MH-ALLAHBADIA

India's Got Latent row: Ranveer Allahbadia appears before Maharashtra Cyber for recording statement Mumbai: YouTubers Ranveer Allahbadia and Ashish Chanchlani on Monday appeared before the Maharashtra Cyber to record their statements in connection with the India's Got Latent case, officials said.

CAL12 WB-DOCS-MAMATA

Demand strict punishment for those behind RG Kar incident: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday referred to the murdered woman doctor of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital as her "sister" and extended deepest condolences to the victim’s parents.

CAL20 BH-PM-KISAN

Over Rs 22,000 cr transferred into accounts of 9.8 cr farmers as Modi releases PM Kisan installment Bhagalpur: More than Rs 22,000 crore was transferred into the bank accounts of 9.8 crore farmers across the country as Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday released the 19th installment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme.

CAL14 BH-PM-TEJASHWI

PM's Bihar visit aimed to issue instructions for management of assembly polls: Tejashwi Patna: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Monday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bihar was primarily intended to issue "instructions" for effective "management" of assembly elections in the state, which are due later this year.

CAL26 BH-NITISH

Those who got Muslim votes could not stop riots: Nitish Bhagalpur: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday slammed the opposition RJD-Congress combine, alleging that those in power before him "sought votes of Muslims" but failed to check communal clashes.

MDS8 TL-TUNNEL-SURVIVORS

T'gana tunnel collapse: Workers hope for safe return of colleagues Hyderabad: As the operation to rescue the eight personnel trapped inside the tunnel of SLBC project in Telangana was in progress, the workers who survived the mishap hoped for the safe return of their colleagues and recalled the tragedy that unfolded before their eyes.

LEGAL LGD10 SC-WASTE-NCR

Segregating waste at source important for environment: SC New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday said segregation of waste at source was of "vital importance" for the environment and asked the NCR states for the compliances made in adherence to the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.

LGD5 DL-HC-RASHID

Decide Engineer Rashid'??s bail plea expeditiously: Delhi HC to NIA court New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the court hearing cases of the National Investigation Agency to expeditiously decide the bail plea of jailed J&K MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh alias Engineer Rashid in a terror funding case.

LGD6 UP-COURT-RAHUL

Defamation case against Rahul Gandhi: Hearing deferred to Mar 6 Sultanpur: A special MP/MLA court on Monday adjourned the hearing in a defamation case against Leader of Opposition and Rae Bareli MP Rahul Gandhi to March 6.

LGM1 TN-HC-ISHA

HC dismisses plea against Mahasivarathri celebrations at Isha in Coimbatore Chennai: The Madras High Court on Monday dismissed a petition seeking direction to authorities concerned from granting permission to conduct Mahasivarathri celebrations at Isha Foundation in Coimbatore.

LGM2 KL-COURT-GEORGE-LD HATE SPEECH

BJP leader P C George in police custody in hate speech case Kottayam: BJP leader P C George, who surrendered before a court in Erattupetta on Monday in connection with a hate speech case, has been remanded to police custody until 6 pm today.

LGD8 DL-HC-BIHAR OLYMPIC-IOA

Delhi HC sets aside IOA decision for ad-hoc panel to examine Bihar olympic body affairs New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday set aside a decision of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to constitute an ad-hoc panel to examine the affairs of the Bihar Olympic Association.

FOREIGN FGN36 UK-INDIA-FTA

UK trade minister to relaunch trade talks with ‘vibrant market’ India London: UK Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds on Monday said securing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with “vibrant market” India is a top priority for the British government.

FGN39 BANGLA-AIR FORCE BASE-ATTACK

Security personnel repulse attack by 'miscreants' on airbase: One killed, several hurt Dhaka: One man was shot dead and several injured when security personnel repulsed an attack Monday on a Bangladesh Air Force base in the southeastern beach town of Cox’s Bazar, officials said.

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Source: PTI