India

New Delhi, Mar 16 (PTI) Bank strike continued for day-two on Tuesday, led by nine unions of public sector banks (PSBs) in the country, opposing government's policy to privatise the lenders.

Customers will be inconvenienced to get services such as cash withdrawals, deposits, cheque clearances, remittance services. Government transactions related to treasury as well as business transactions will also be impacted.

United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body of nine unions, had given a strike call for March 15 and 16.

Jaipur, Mar 15 (PTI) The Rajasthan government gives priority to the agriculture sector and a new agriculture budget will be introduced in the state from next year to fulfill the dreams of farmers, Agriculture Minister Lal Chand Kataria said on Monday.

Efforts are being made to provide all facilities to the farmers online through innovations. Also, the department is working to provide agricultural equipment on rent, Kataria said.

Ghaziabad, Mar 15 (PTI) A POCSO court awarded 10 years imprisonment to a man for raping a minor and also slapped a fine of Rs 1.80 lakh on him.

Special public prosecutor Utakarsh Vats told PTI that an FIR was lodged at Modinagar Police Station against Shushil for raping a minor in 2019. He was known to the victim's family and visited her house often, Vats said.

Chief Special Judge of POCSO court Mahendra Srivastav pronounced the verdict.

New Delhi, Mar 16 (PTI) Taking a dig at the government, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that selling public sector banks to "cronies" will compromise the country's financial security.

He also accused the government of "privatising profit" and "nationalising loss".

Mumbai, Mar 15 (PTI) Bollywood superstar-producer Aamir Khan on Monday announced that he has decided to leave social media, adding that updates about his future projects will be available on his production banner's official account.

Khan, who turned 56 yesterday, also thanked his well-wishers for their love and warmth on his birthday.

Lucknow, Mar 15 (PTI) BSP president Mayawati announced on Monday that the party would contest the assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry on its own, saying it had a "bitter experience" of aligning with other parties in the past.

Mayawati also stated that her party would go alone in the Uttar Pradesh assembly election next year.

Kanpur: Banks on strike. Transactions on hold. Customers maintain patience. Today remains the second day of the banking strike in support of the employee's various demands including privatisation of the banks.

During the strike on the first day when the branch of Bank of India at Birhana Road opened, the employees and union office bearers reached there and started raising slogans. As a result, the bank was closed.

Hyderabad, Mar 15 (PTI) The Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM on Monday announced candidates for the three seats it is contesting in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

The party named T S Vakeel Ahmed (Vaniyambadi), B M Aminullah Ahmed (Krishnagiri) and M Mujib ur Rahman (Sankarapuram) as its candidates, AIMIM said on twitter.

The AIMIM has tied up with TTV Dhinakaran's AMMK for the Tamil Nadu elections.

Jabalpur, Mar 15 (PTI) Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Monday said the farmers' stir against the Centre's agri marketing laws would go on till December and future course of action would be decided then if the laws are not repealed.

Speaking at a rally in Sihora, some 45 kilometres from the district headquarters, Tikait said the MSP mechanism was irrevocable and farmers would not sell their produce below it.

Ahmedabad, Mar 15 (PTI) In view of the surge in coronavirus cases, the remaining three T20 cricket matches between India and England will be played without any spectators at the Narendra Modi Stadium here.

The announcement was made by the Gujarat Cricket Association, which owns the ground in the Motera area of the city.

The matches scheduled for March 16, 18 and 20 will be played without any spectators in the stands, and those who have already bought the tickets will get a refund, it said.