New Delhi, Sep 1 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the Centre’s “unregulated” rollout of E20 petrol (20 per cent ethanol blended petrol) as the default petrol.The plea said that mandating E20 for a predominantly non‑compatible vehicle fleet, especially pre‑April 2023 models, could lead to material degradation, safety risks, mileage loss, warranty and insurance denials.Opposing the petition, Attorney General for India R. Venkatar…

Mumbai, Sep 1 (IANS) Pro-Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil, whose indefinite fast entered the fourth day on Monday, announced that he would stop consuming water from today until the state government implements Maratha reservation under the OBC category.The cabinet subcommittee headed by Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil will meet today to discuss Jarange-Patil’s demands. Jarange-Patil’s medical examination was conducted at 12 o’clock last night. The medical team checke…

Chandigarh, Sep 1 (IANS) With Punjab grappling with the worst floods in 37 years and the situation devastating, putting millions of lives at risk as families have lost homes and hard-earned crops, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday spoke to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the phone, discussed the situation and assured assistance.The Home Minister assured CM Mann of full support with adequate deployment of NDRF teams and Indian Army camps for rescue and relief operations in mitigating the …

Jaipur, Sep 1 (IANS) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Dr Mohan Bhagwat will arrive in Jodhpur on Monday afternoon.During his visit, he will preside over internal meetings with Sangh officials of various levels and participate as the keynote speaker in the All India Coordination Meeting scheduled in the city from September 5 to 7. In view of Dr Bhagwat’s visit, the Jodhpur Police Commissionerate has intensified security arrangements.Additional police deployment has been made across sensi…

Hyderabad, Sep 1 (IANS) Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K. T. Rama Rao said on Monday that the party will fight legally and politically against “whatever the Congress government conspires against them”.He was reacting to the decision of the state government to hand over the case relating to alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram irrigation project, constructed during the BRS rule, to the Central Bureau of Investigation.Rama Rao took to ‘X’ to react to the announcement made …

Ahmedabad, Sep 1 (IANS) Gujarat this year has received 90 per cent of its seasonal rainfall so far. According to official data, the state has recorded an average of 31.5 inches of rainfall this season.Rainfall distribution shows that June saw the highest showers with 12 inches on average, followed by 10 inches in July and 9.5 inches in August.At present, 48 talukas have received more than 40 inches of rain, while 10 districts have already crossed the 100 per cent mark of their seasonal quota. So…

New Delhi, Sep 1 (IANS) The ongoing ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ sparked sharp political reactions from leaders of the ruling NDA in Bihar, on Monday, with several top ministers accusing the opposition of misleading people, labeling them as “enemies of democracy.”Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha launched a scathing attack, branding those participating in the Yatra as anti-democratic.“They are enemies of democracy,” he said, dismissing the campaign as theatrics without substance.Echoing s…

Jaipur, Sep 1 (IANS) The Monsoon Session of the Rajasthan Assembly started on Monday amid uproar from the very first day as the Congress MLAs shouted slogans accusing ‘vote theft’ and waved placards inside the House.The BJP members also raised slogans to counter Congress’ ‘vote thief gaddi chhor’ by raising ‘Gaalibaaz Rahul Gandhi, Gaalibaaz Congress’ slogans.Earlier, the Congress MLAs arrived in the Assembly wearing white T-shirts with the slogan “Vote chor, gaddi chhor (vote thief, leave the…

Mumbai, Sep 1 (IANS) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday reiterated that he would not take any step outside the framework of the Constitution given by Dr B.R. Ambedkar, stressing that any reservation granted beyond the ambit of law would not sustain.CM Fadnavis’ statement comes when pro-Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil has stepped up his protest demanding reservation to the Maratha community from the OBC quota. “No matter how much anyone abuses me, I cannot go be…

Thodupuzha (Kerala), Sep 1 ( IANS) The Kerala police have arrested four men in connection with the case related to an attempt to murder popular journalist Shajan Skaria, officials said.The accused were tracked down while hiding in Bengaluru. The police said one more suspect is still at large, while the alleged mastermind, CPI-M worker Mathews Kollappilly, is already in custody.The arrests were made by a special Thodupuzha police team after investigators traced the suspects through social media a…