Top Stories on 11 March in a capsule

STORY OF THE DAY

Maharashtra Kisan Sabha March: Over 30,000 farmers protest demanding loan waiver

Over 30,000 farmers from all over Maharashtra, walked from Nashik in the ‘Kisan Long March’ to Mumbai on Sunday with a series of demands, including complete loan waiver. The farmers, who have covered around 180 km on foot in six days, led by All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), a farmer front of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), are protesting against the BJP led state government, in failing to reduce agricultural distress. Perturbed by the chain of events, CM Devendra Fadnavis created a six-member committee to look after the events late night as opponents Shiv Sena and NCP vocally supported the farmers. As of now, the farmers have reached Azad Maidan after an overnight march from Somaiya ground to CST. They are expected to march to the Vidhan Bhavan at 9am today.

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Forest fire in Tamil Nadu: 15 people injured, 36 still trapped

In a massive fire that broke out in the forest area of Tamil Nadu’s Theni district, on Sunday evening trapping a total of 36 people and 15 being rescued, as per the last update. The rescued, who were rushed to a hospital in Bodinaicknaur have suffered from burn injuries. According to reports, the affected were in the forest area as part of groups who went on a trek organised by the Chennai Trekking Club. Rescue operations were done by the fire and forest department officials with the Indian Airforce sending two helicopters as directed by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman after Chief Minister K Palaniswami approached for help.

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Turkey plane crash: 11 killed as private jet crashes in Iran

A Turkish private jet flying from the United Arab Emirates to Istanbul carrying a group of young women crashed Sunday night in a mountainous region of Iran during a heavy rain, killing all 11 people on board, authorities said. The doomed aircraft days earlier carried a bachelorette party bound for Dubai. Iranian state television quoted Mojtaba Khaledi, the spokesman of the country’s emergency management organization, as saying the plane hit a mountain near Shahr-e Kord and burst into flames.

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Rajya Sabha polls 2018: Parties field in their candidates

All the political parties on Sunday took to nominating their candidates for the for the 59 seats of the Rajya Sabha, with the elections supposed to be held on March 23. The BJP announced a total of 18 candidates, seven of them being from the state of Uttar Pradesh featuring spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao and Vijay Pal Singh Tomar, among others. The Congress presented a list of 10 candidates. In UP, which remains the most important state with 10 seats up for grabs, the SP has fielded in Jaya Bachchan, while the BSP has nominated Bhimrao Ambedkar. Law and order minister Ravi Shankar Prasad is among the Union Ministers, who might be nominees.

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UP CM gives 24-hour deadline to find ‘culprits’ of Jhansi hospital mess

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday ordered an investigation into the case of Jhansi’s Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College where an accident victim’s own severed leg was used as a pillow. In a video that surfaced, 28-year-old Ghanshyam, who worked as a bus cleaner, is seen resting his head on his own leg, that was severed as the bus suffered an accident on Saturday afternoon. CM Adityanath announced Rs 2 lakh as compensation for the victim and has given a 24-hour deadline to the Chief Medical Secretary to identify the people responsible. Two doctors were also suspended, following an investigation.


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Rajnikanth visits Himalayas amidst criticism for silence over women safety

Superstar Rajinikanth on Sunday reached the Himalayas as part of his annual pilgrimage, amidst growing criticism on his silence over women safety issues in Tamil Nadu. Reactions against the actor came after Chennai witnessed a tragic murder of a BCom student Ashwini on Friday, raising questions on security. While Rajinikanth has been quite, his political competition and fellow actor Kamal Haasan has initiated a debate in the same. Meanwhile starting his trip, Rajinikanth offered prayers in Baijnath Temple in Himachal Pradesh, and the Shivkhori cave shrine in Reasi and commented that ‘he will refrain from making any political statements during the trip.’


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French Pres unveils 700 MN euros investment for solar energy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday chaired the first conference of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in New Delhi. Aimed at harnessing solar energy, the ISA aims to raise investments for developing countries. Addressing a delegation of 23 countries, including UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres, Macron praised India’s efforts in raising solar energy. “France will extend an extra 700 million euros ($861.5 million) through loans and donations by 2022 for solar projects in emerging economies,” Macron said. The French Prez along with PM Modi, also promised that they would fight climate change together.


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ONGC bars top executives from flying in the same aircraft

After losing key executives in a helicopter crash, state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) is veering around the idea of barring senior management from flying together in the same chopper. The company lost five key operational personnel when a Pawan Hans helicopter crashed in the Arabian Sea in January. “Lot of companies world over have a policy of not allowing more than two senior executives flying together. We are also thinking of putting the same policy in operation for our offshore operations," a senior ONGC executive said.

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1,700 MPs, MLAs booked in cases of criminal offenses in last 3 years

More than 1,700 sitting MPs and MLAs are facing trials in 3,045 criminal cases pending across the country, the Centre has told the Supreme Court. Uttar Pradesh topped the list of states with the highest number of legislators standing trials. While 248 MPs and MLAs face trials in Uttar Pradesh. Tamil Nadu, Bihar, and West Bengal account for 178, 144 and 139 such lawmakers, respectively.Submitting its affidavit in response to a query by the Supreme Court, the central government has disclosed that between 2014 and 2017, as many as 1,765 legislators have been in the dock over criminal trials. These 1,765 MPs and MLAs were involved in 3,816 criminal cases, stated the affidavit, citing statistics collated by various High Courts as on March 5 this year.


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