India

Cuttack, Dec 7 (PTI) A Congress MLA of Odisha on Monday served a legal notice to BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra and threatened criminal defamation against him if he does not immediately apologise publicly for allegedly tarnishing the legislator's image.

The Barabati-Cuttack Congress MLA Md Moquim sent the legal notice through Supreme Court advocate Shashwat Singh.

Jaipur, Dec 7 (PTI) The Rajasthan Waqf Board has decided to open 15 petrol pumps on its properties across the state to generate additional income and employment opportunities for the youth.

Khanu Khan, chairman of the board, said petrol pumps will be opened at 15 prime locations in different cities following agreement with oil companies.

New Delhi, Dec 7 (PTI) Nearly 1,000 dengue cases have been recorded in the national capital this year till date, with 338 of those being reported in November, according to official data.

The number of cases of dengue this year has been lower compared to the situation in the previous years.

According to data shared by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), the nodal agency that tabulates data on vector-borne diseases for the city, 992 cases of dengue has been recorded in Delhi till December 5.

Mumbai, Dec 8 (PTI) Members of a farmers' organisation on Tuesday staged a 'rail roko' in Maharashtra's Buldhana district as part of the Bharat Bandh called by agitating farmer unions to press for repeal of the Centre's agri laws.

Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna members stopped the Chennai-Ahmedabad Navjeevan Express at Malkapur station in Buldhana district while protesting against the farm laws.

Police detained Sanghatana leader Ravikant Tupkar and his supporters over the incident, after removing them from the rail tracks, an official said.

Pune, Dec 8 (PTI) Social activist Anna Hazare on Tuesday sat on a day-long hunger strike to support agitating farmers who have called Bharat Bandh demanding repeal of the Centre's agri laws.

Hazare also said the agitation should spread across the country so that the government comes under pressure to act in the interests of cultivators.

In a recorded message, Hazare appreciated farmers' protests at the borders of Delhi saying no violence has taken place in the last 10 days of the agitation.

Bhopal, Dec 8 (PTI) Protests were held in Seoni-Malwa area in Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday morning in support of the 'Bharat Bandh' called by farmer unions against the Centre's new agri laws.

The protesters under the banner of the Krantikari Kisan Mazdoor Sangthan (KKMS) raised slogans and demanded repeal of the new agriculture laws.

A Congress spokesman said the party will hold demonstrations at headquarters of various districts around 11 AM.

Medininagar Dec 8 (PTI) A joint team of police and CRPF recovered nine landmines planted by Maoists in Jharkhand's Latehar district, an officer said on Tuesday.

The security forces during a search operation on Monday detected wires on the Medininagar-Ranchi road near Dumuhan, about 40 km from here, the officer said.

Mumbai/Pune, Dec 8 (PTI) Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs) remained closed in many parts of Maharashtra on Tuesday in support of the Bharat Bandh called by agitating farmer unions to press for repeal of the Centre's agri laws.

Wholesale markets in major cities like Pune, Nashik, Nagpur and Aurangabad remained shut. Retail shops also downed shutters in many cities.

APMCs at Kalyan and Vashi in Navi Mumbai, which supplies bulk of vegetables and fruits to Mumbai, remained closed, with wholesalers and traders supporting the Bandh.

Ahmedabad, Dec 8 (PTI) The Bharat Bandh called by farmer unions and supported by the Congress failed to have much impact till noon in BJP-ruled Gujarat even as protesters tried to block highways at some places by placing burning tyres on roads.

Barring a few places in the state, all the markets, shops, banks, government and private offices, and other commercial establishments functioned normally.

Mumbai, Dec 8 (PTI) Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday said the Uddhav Thackeray-led party never supported the three farm laws in Lok Sabha as alleged by the BJP.

Taking a swipe at the Centre over farmers' protests, Raut suggested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Union Home Minister Amit Shah can hold talks with cultivators who are observing the Bharat Bandh against farm laws.