Delhi

New Delhi, Feb 12 (PTI) India and Maldives on Tuesday exchanged diplomatic notes for the implementation of a visa facilitation agreement to boost people to people contacts between the two countries.

The agreement was signed during Maldivian President Ibrahim Solih's visit to India in December within a month after taking charge of the high office. The visit was seen as an effort by his government to repair ties with India which came under severe strain during the presidentship of Abdulla Yameen, who was known to be close to China.

New Delhi, Feb 11; PTI/GANASHAKTI: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's daylong fast demanding special status for his state on Monday became a rallying point for various opposition leaders who visited the protest venue to back him and attack the Central government.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi, National Congress chairperson Farooq Abdullah, NCP's Majeed Memon, Trinamool Congress' Derek O' Brien, DMK's Tiruchi Siva and Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav were among those who met the TDP chief to express their support.

New Delhi, Feb 11 (PTI) The Supreme Court Monday said it will hear in July a plea of Zakia Jafri, challenging the SIT's clean chit to the then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi in connection with the 2002 Godhra riots.

A bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar listed the matter for hearing in the month of July.

New Delhi, Feb 11 (PTI) The Congress on Monday said the Rafale deal is "unravelling" faster than the government thought, with issues such as "parallel negotiations" by the PMO and changes in the standard defence procurement procedure coming to the fore.

New Delhi, Feb 11 (PTI) A four-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 35-year-old sanitation worker at a public toilet in west Delhi's Naraina area, police said Monday.

The incident took place on February 6 and the Naraina police station were informed regarding the incident on Monday, they added.

The victim was taken for a medical examination. A case was registered and the accused has been arrested, Deputy Commissioner of Police (west) Monika Bhardwaj said.

The minor's condition is now stable, she said.

New Delhi, Feb 11 (PTI) The AAP has invited Congress President Rahul Gandhi to attend its mega "Tanashahi Hatao, Loktantra Bachao" rally in the national capital on Wednesday to corner the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, a senior party leader said.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh told PTI that the Congress president is one of the invitees of the 'Tanashahi Hatao Loktantra Bachao' rally to be held on February 13 here.

New Delhi, Feb 12 (PTI) At least 17 people were killed as a massive fire swept through a hotel in central Delhi's Karol Bagh area early Tuesday, police said.

The fire broke out at Arpit Palace Hotel located on Gurudwara Road in Karol Bagh.

A call about the fire was received at 4.35 am and 24 fire tenders were rushed to the spot, a senior officer from the Delhi Fire Service said.

A senior Delhi Police official said 17 people were killed in the fire.

New Delhi, Feb 11 (PTI) The Supreme Court Monday refused to monitor the ongoing CBI investigation into the Saradha chit fund scam in West Bengal.

A two-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna did not allow the application filed by some investors that despite the apex court's 2013 order directing the CBI to probe the chit fund scam, the investigation has not attained finality.

"We are not inclined to set up a monitoring committee to monitor the chit fund scam probe," the bench said.

New Delhi, Feb 10 (PTI) The government has sought over Rs 1,637 crore in the current fiscal to allow the law ministry make payments to two suppliers of EVMs and paper trail machines ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

The government, in the third batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2018-19, has sought Parliament's approval for Rs 1,637.14 crore to allow the Law Ministry pay Electronics Corporation of India Ltd and Bharat Electronics Ltd for electronic voting machines and paper trail machines, according to the document.

New Delhi, Feb 11 (PTI) Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday joined Twitter and garnered a massive response with tens of thousands following her on the social media platform within hours.

Her logging on to Twitter with the account @priyankagandhi came on the day of her maiden visit to Uttar Pradesh as an AICC general secretary.

"Smt Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is now on Twitter. You may follow her at @priyankagandhi," a tweet from the Congress' official Twitter handle said.