The Congress claimed on Wednesday that it has documents proving state Minister for Women and Child Welfare Pankaja Munde was part of a 200-crore scam. The party claims Munde violated rules for a transparent online bidding process and sanctioned inflated deals for items for government-run schools. Munde has denied all charges and told Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis that she is "ready for any inquiry."
Gujarat: Heavy rains kill 34
At least 34 people died in various parts of Gujarat as the state experienced very heavy rains due to a "deep depression" in the weather system on Wednesday. The National Disaster Response Force, Air Force and State Reserve Police teams were pressed to rescue stranded villagers in the Rajkot and Amreli districts. Around 1,500 people in Amreli, 4,121 in Rajkot and 100 in Bhavnagar were evacuated from low-lying areas, according to the state officials.
Jammu and Kashmir: Flood alert as Jhelum crosses danger mark
A flood alert was announced in Kashmir's Anantnag and Pulwama districts after the state experienced incessant rains since Wednesday. It was also reported that the water level in the river Jhelum had crossed the danger mark at Sangam in south Kashmir early on Thursday. Officials have advised people living in flood-prone, low-lying areas to move to safer locations. Officials have also said they will review the situation in an early morning meeting. The Meteorological Department has forecast more rains over the next 48 hours in the state.
Bihar: Centre to build national memorial to honour Jayaprakash Narayan
The Union government announced on Wednesday, ahead of the Emergency's 40th anniversary, a decision to build a national memorial to honour Jayaprakash Narayan. In a press statement, the government praised Narayan's “call for a Sampoorna Kranti [Total Revolution], for upholding and defending civil liberties at a very critical juncture in the post-independence history of India.” The decision is being seen as a "poll gambit" by the Bharatiya Janata Party in an effort to pit leaders of political parties against each other in the electoral battle for the state in September. The major parties and leaders were all part of Narayan's movement that opposed the Emergency. The BJP's strategy is likely to highlight the fact that Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad Yadav and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar who were once allied against the Emergency have now joined forces with the Congress.
Manipur: Indian authorities identify militants who ambushed army regiment
Indian agencies have identified 10 out of 30 insurgents that had attacked the 6 Dogra infantry regiment of the Indian Army in Manipur on June 4, leading to the death of 18 jawans. The insurgents, belonging to the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang, can now be sought and extradited with the help of Myanmar authorities, officials said.