Modi brands Nitish 'too arrogant'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged the people of Bihar to back the Bharatiya Janata Party’s so-called development agenda. Saying that India cannot grow if Bihar did not develop too, Modi gave the example of the neighbouring BJP-ruled state of Jharkhand, which was ranked the third-most conducive state to industrialisation by the World Bank. Promising to develop Bihar if the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance coalition came to power, Modi also claimed that the current chief minister Nitish Kumar was “too arrogant”.

Anandiben Patel warns agitators

Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel on Friday delivered a stern message to the people from the Patel community leading an agitation for reservations in educational institutions and government jobs, saying that no one has the right to take the law in their own hands. Anyone found guilty of disturbing the peace would not be spared by the police, she said. The protests have already claimed the lives of at least 10 people in August.

AAP accuses Centre of interfering in Somnath case

The Aam Aadmi Party on Friday expressed its surprise at the presence of three law officers in the Supreme Court to oppose the bail application of its MLA Somnath Bharti in a domestic violence case. Before Bharti surrendered to the Delhi police earlier this week, AAP had criticised him for failing to give himself up. But the party on Friday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government of interfering in the case. AAP criticised the Delhi Police for taking orders from the Centre and harassing its members.

Patnaik launches BJD 12-day padyatra

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday expressed his annoyance at the the Central government for stopping some welfare schemes in the state and the reducing funds for others. Launching a 12-day padyatra through the state, Patnaik said that his government would continue such welfare programmes with the state's own resources. He added that during the padyatra, BJD leaders would explain to the people how the state government had been implementing promises being made during the elections.

Jaitley has forgotten Punjab farmers: Congress

A day after the BJP proposed farm loans at 0% interest for poll-bound Bihar, Punjab Congress leader Sunil Jakhar said on Friday that Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has "forgotten the farmers of the state". Jaitley had contested his first parliamentary election in 2014 from Amritsar and lost. Saying that Jaitley, as finance minister of the country, should care about farmers of all states, Jakhar questioned why Punjab’s farmers had not been offered similar 0% interest farm loans.