The big news: Yogi Adityanath says UP government will not touch legal abattoirs, and 9 other stories
Other headlines: The US has confirmed that its airstrikes killed 200 people in Iraq, and the vice president said universities must be defended as free spaces.
- Will not touch meat shops and slaughterhouses with licence, says Yogi Adityanath: The chief minister said his government’s action was directed at those ‘violating the orders of the National Green Tribunal and creating pollution’.
- Coalition airstrike killed more than 200 civilians in Mosul, confirms US: The statement came after the Iraqi government decided to suspend their offensive against the Islamic State fighters following reports about the deaths.
- Varsities must be defended as free spaces, says Vice President Hamid Ansari: The rights to dissent and agitate are ingrained in our Constitutional rights, he said while speaking at Punjab University’s 66th convocation ceremony.
- AAP will revoke residential house tax if voted to power in Delhi civic polls, says Arvind Kejriwal: The national capital’s chief minister also vowed to ensure timely dispensation of salaries.
- Eight teachers accused of raping 13-year-old over the course of 18 months in Bikaner, say reports: The matter came to light when the girl was diagnosed with blood cancer three months ago.
- Lights across the world went off to mark Earth Hour: Among the famous buildings taking part are the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, London’s Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower and Sydney’s Opera House.
- Court frames defamation notice against Arvind Kejriwal and five others in case filed by Arun Jaitley: The court scheduled the next hearing for May 20 after the accused pleaded ‘not guilty’.
- Elections should be conducted using ballot papers, says Akhilesh Yadav: The former chief minister alleged that the police department under CM Adityanath’s administration was transferring police personnel from a particular caste.
- Woman forced to drink acid by attackers who wanted her to drop an eight-year-old gangrape case in Uttar Pradesh: The complainant said she was on a train to Lucknow when the assault took place, and that this was not the first time this had happened.
- Sebi bars Reliance Industries from equity derivative market for a year: The case dates back to 2007, which the company merged its petroleum arm into itself.