HIGHLIGHTS

New Delhi, Mar 27 (PTI): Following are the top stories at 5.20 pm: NATION DEL17 OPPN-SPEAKER-LETTER

Oppn flags 'denial of speaking opportunity' to LoP, 'politicisation' of Birla's remarks New Delhi: An opposition parties' delegation met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday to flag denial of opportunity to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to speak in the House, as well as the "politicisation" of his asking the Congress leader to follow the rules of procedure.

DEL16 PM MODI-YUNUS-NATIONAL DAY

Bangladesh National Day testament to our shared history: PM Modi to Yunus New Delhi: Greeting Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and people of the neighbouring country on its National Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said this day "stands as a testament to our shared history and sacrifices, that have laid the foundation of our bilateral partnership."

MDS7 TN-ADITYANATH-STALIN

Language row: Stalin slams UP CM; says ‘darkest political black comedy’ Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday lashed out at his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath on the language row, dubbing his remarks as "political black comedy" and said his state was not opposing a language, but its "imposition and chauvinism".

DEL39 RSQ-CHINA-DAM

Carefully monitoring all developments related to Brahmaputra: Govt on China's dam project New Delhi: The government is "carefully" monitoring all developments relating to the Brahmaputra river, including plans by China to construct a hydropower project, and taking necessary measures to protect the country's interests, the Parliament was informed on Thursday.

DEL38 JK-HURRIYAT-LD SHAH

2 more Hurriyat groups denounce separatism, repose faith in Modi-led Bharat: Amit Shah New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said two more constituents of the Jammu and Kashmir-based Hurriyat Conference have discarded separatism and reposed their faith in the new Bharat built by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

PAR10 RS-LD PRIVILEGE NOTICE

Dhankhar rejects privilege notice against Amit Shah, says no transgression New Delhi: Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday rejected a privilege notice against Union Home Minister Amit Shah after the minister cited a 1948 government press release to authenticate his statement that a Congress leader was part of the management of the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.

DEL37 PAR-PANEL-CBI

Par panel for lateral entry in CBI; new law to probe national security cases sans state consent New Delhi: Flagging the shortage of candidates for deputation in the CBI, a Parliamentary panel Thursday recommended lateral entry for specialists, while also suggesting a new law be enacted to allow the agency to probe without states' consent cases affecting national security and integrity.

BOM11 MH-UDDHAV-LD BJP

Maharashtra govt summons Kamra for insulting 'traitor', remains silent on Solapurkar: Uddhav Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday said the Maharashtra government summoned comedian Kunal Kamra for insulting a "traitor," but took no action against actor Rahul Solapurkar over his "insult" of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

MDS10 TN-PALANISWAMI-PANNEERSELVAM

Step down as AIADMK chief or face disrespect: OPS tells Palaniswami Chennai: Expelled AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam on Thursday denied party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami's allegation that he led an attack on party headquarters here, and asked his rival to step down as the general secretary or "face disrespect," since he has not ensured any electoral triumph.

LEGAL LGD19 UP-SAMBHAL-COURT-MOSQUE-LD BAIL

Sambhal violence: Court refuses interim bail to Shahi Jama Masjid president Sambhal (UP): A local court on Thursday rejected the interim bail plea of Shahi Jama Masjid president Zafar Ali and posted his regular plea on April 2, officials said.

LGM2 KA-COURT-GOLD-SMUGGLING

Kannada actress Ranya Rao denied bail in gold smuggling case; judicial probe ordered Bengaluru: A sessions court in Bengaluru on Thursday rejected the bail plea of Kannada actress Harshavardhini Ranya alias Ranya Rao in the gold smuggling case.

BUSINESS DEL15 BIZ-TAX OFFICE-OPEN

I-T deptt offices to remain open on March 29-31: CBDT New Delhi: Income tax department offices across the country will remain open on March 29 to March 31 to facilitate taxpayers in completing pending tax-related business for the fiscal year.

DEL13 BIZ-BIS-AMAZON-RAID

BIS raids Amazon, Flipkart warehouses, seizes substandard goods New Delhi: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has conducted extensive raids on Amazon and Flipkart warehouses here, seizing thousands of products lacking proper quality certifications, the government said on Thursday.

FOREIGN FGN46 PAK-INDIAN-FISHERMAN

Indian fisherman dies in Pakistan jail Karachi: A 52-year-old Indian fisherman has died allegedly by suicide in his cell at the Malir Jail in Pakistan's Karachi, a jail official said on Thursday.

FGN42 LANKA-INDIAN-FISHERMEN

11 Indian fishermen arrested by Sri Lanka Navy for alleged illegal fishing Colombo: The Sri Lankan Navy on Thursday arrested 11 Indian fishermen and seized their trawler for allegedly poaching in the island nation's water, according to an official release.

FGN39 PAK-BALOCHISTAN-LD KILLINGS

Gunmen kill 6 bus passengers in Pakistan's Balochistan Karachi: Suspected insurgents shot and killed six people from Punjab after offloading them from a passenger bus in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, officials said on Thursday.

FES26 ISRAEL-ABRAHAM

Israeli Foreign Ministry to screen John Abraham's 'The Diplomat' as a special gesture to new Indian envoy Jerusalem: In a special gesture to welcome JP Singh, India's new envoy to Israel, the country's foreign ministry is planning to screen John Abraham starrer "The Diplomat", which is based on a real incident that Singh solved. By Harinder Mishra

FGN36 RUSSIA-PUTIN-LD INDIA

Putin accepts Modi's invitation to visit India, preparations underway: Russian FM Lavrov Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invitation to visit India and preparations are underway for it, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday.

PTI AMJ AMJ AMJ

Source: PTI