India

NEW DELHI, Feb 21 (Reuters) - India's home minister said he favoured students wearing uniforms in school rather than any religious attire, but that his position might change once a court decides on the merits of a ban on the hijab in schools in the state of Karnataka.

The ban imposed by Karnataka on Feb. 5 has sparked protests by Muslim students and parents, and counter-protests by Hindu students, forcing authorities to close schools there earlier this month.

Nagpur, Feb 21 (PTI) Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Monday said Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has the "ability to lead taking all together", a day after Rao met Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray and NCP president Sharad Pawar in a bid to bring together like-minded parties against the BJP at the national level.

Talking to reporters in Nagpur, Raut also claimed that the BJP will get defeated in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls which are currently underway.

Jaipur, Feb 20 (PTI) A four-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her neighbour in Bhilwara district on Sunday, police here said.

The accused, Hanuman Meghwal (40), raped her by taking her to his room when her parents were away for labour work, they said.

When the incident came to light, local people assaulted the accused, who was in an inebriated state, and injured him, they said.

The police have admitted the accused and the victim to a hospital.

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 20 (PTI) Amid widening differences between Raj Bhavan and the ruling LDF in Kerala over various issues, the state government has made its submission before the central government-appointed Punhi Commission that the state legislatures shall be empowered to control the Governors who violate the Constitutional values and principles while exercising their power.

Lucknow, Feb 20 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday took out roadshows in the state capital to muster support for their respective party candidates.

Chandigarh, Feb 20 (PTI) A voter turnout of nearly 70 per cent was recorded till 5 pm in Punjab, where polling for 117 assembly seats was held on Sunday.

The final turnout figure at the end of polling at 6 pm is not yet available and officials here said that they are still compiling the data.

The Punjab election office had released a polling percentage of 63.44 till 5 pm.

Later, at midnight, the Election Commission's Voter Turnout App released an updated percentage of 69.65 for polling till 5 pm.

Lucknow, Feb 21 (PTI) Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday began a major road show in the state capital to drum up support for party candidates ahead of the February 23 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

The Congress general secretary sat atop an SUV along with party candidate Lalan Kumar from Bakshi ka Talab constituency as they went on a door-to-door campaign in the Chinhat area.

Monday also marks the last day of campaigning for the fourth phase polls.

NEW DELHI, Feb 20 (NNN-PTI) – Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, virtually launched 100 farmer drones across India, for spraying pesticides and other farming materials, local media reported yesterday.

Modi described the development as a “very novel and exciting initiative” for farmers, and “a new chapter in the direction of modern farming system of the 21st century.”

The new technology will empower farmers and make agriculture more profitable, he wrote on social media.

NEW DELHI, Feb 20 (NNN-PTI) – India’s airlines, Air India, will operate three flights to Ukraine next week, to bring back those who are willing to leave the European country, confirmed an airlines official yesterday.

“Air India will operate three flights between India-Ukraine (Boryspil International Airport) on Feb 22, 24 and 26. Bookings open through Air India booking offices, Website, Call Centre and authorised Travel Agents,” the company tweeted.

FATEHGARH SAHIB, India (AP) — Amandeep Kaur Dholewal rose from a traditional Indian cot and began speaking to a small gathering of men and women who sat cross-legged in a park opposite a white-domed gurdwara, a place of worship for Sikhs.

The 37-year-old doctor was flanked by a dozen of supporters, mainly drawn from the protesters who last year hunkered on the edges of the Indian capital and demonstrated against farm laws pushed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which they feared would decimate their income.