Delhi

Itanagar, Mar 19 (PTI) Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said Tuesday his party will restore the special category status to Arunachal Pradesh and other states in the northeast if elected to power.

There are some states in the country which require special status because of their "unique problems and difficulties" such as connectivity, terrain, infrastructure, Gandhi said at an election rally here.

During the Congress rule at the Centre, he said, Arunachal Pradesh and other NE states used to enjoy special category status.

New Delhi March 17, 2019 PTI/GANASHAKTI: State-owned telecom firm BSNL will approach National Company Law Tribunal this week to recover dues of about Rs 700 crore from Reliance Communications, according to official sources.

Earlier, debt-ridden RCom in its plea before the NCLAT said that it wants to voluntarily go back into the insolvency process, as it will help selling its assets in a time bound manner.

New Delhi, Mar 18 (PTI) Cash-strapped Jet Airways Monday said it has grounded four more planes, taking the number of aircraft that are non-operational due to non-payment of lease rentals to 41.

Grappling with financial woes, the carrier has been looking at ways to raise fresh funds.

New Delhi, Mar 19 (PTI) Days after having unanimously decided to go it alone in Delhi, the Congress is again mulling options to align with the Aam Aadmi Party in the national capital in its bid to defeat the BJP in Lok Sabha elections.

Sources said the Congress leadership is in talks with AAP leaders and senior leaders within the party are trying to convince Delhi Congress leaders for an alliance with the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP.

Christchurch, Mar 16; PTI: India's High Commission in New Zealand on Saturday said that it has been pursuing with local authorities whereabouts of seven Indians and two Indian-origin persons after the terror attacks on two Christchurch mosques.

Two Indians are receiving treatments, the Indian mission said.

"We have been pursuing with NZ auth whereabouts of 9 Indians, incl 2 PIOs. 2 indians receiving treatment. Following up with NZ Govt for others. Also r in regular touch with their families (sic)," the Twitter account of the Indian High Commission in New Zealand said.

New Delhi, Mar 17; PTI/GANASHAKTI: National record holder KT Irfan Sunday became the first Indian from athletics to qualify for the next year's Olympics while finishing fourth in the 20 km event of the Asian Race Walking Championships in Nomi, Japan.

The 29-year-old Irfan clocked 1 hour 20 minutes and 57 seconds to better the Tokyo Olympics qualification standard of 1 hour 21 minutes.

New Delhi, Mar 17 (PTI) The National Green Tribunal has directed six states to submit by April 30 action plans for bringing air quality standards within the prescribed norms, failing which they would be liable to pay environment compensation of Rs 1 crore each.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel ordered the chief secretaries of Assam, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Nagaland governments to submit their plan within the stipulated time.

New Delhi, Mar 17 (PTI) A 40-year-old rickshaw puller was arrested Sunday for allegedly raping his minor daughter in West Delhi's Punjabi Bagh area, police said.

According to a senior police officer, the seven-year-old girl of the rickshaw puller told a woman, who was working in an NGO and used to teach her sometimes, that her father raped her.

A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the officer said.

New Delhi, Mar 16 (PTI) Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Saturday said the terrorist attack in New Zealand is a warning to the world that hatred is never benign.

She said on Twitter that her heart went out to the victims and their families.

She said may the love and support from millions, who are repelled by this crime, sustain the families and give them courage.

"The horrific terrorist act in New Zealand should be a warning to the whole world: hatred is NEVER benign," Priyanka tweeted.

New Delhi, Mar 16 (PTI) A four-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her tuition teacher's father in west Delhi's Punjab Bagh area, police said Saturday.

The incident took place on Friday when the minor had gone to attend her tuition in the same locality where she resides, they added.