New Delhi, Jul 16 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 9.16 pm: NATION DEL70 PM-CABINET-FARMERS

Government committed to transforming lives of farmers: PM Modi New Delhi: The 'Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana' will boost farm production in districts that are lagging behind and also increase the income of farmers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday, stressing that his government is committed to transforming the lives of farmers.

DEL64 INTERVIEW-JITENDRA-JK

J-K statehood at appropriate time, all must trust PM Modi on this: Jitendra Singh New Delhi: Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Wednesday said that restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir will happen at an appropriate time and everyone must trust the public assurance given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on this issue.

DEL81 RAHUL-RIJIJU

Rahul speaking 'language of Pakistan' on foreign policy harms country: Rijiju New Delhi: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday accused Rahul Gandhi of speaking the "language of Pakistan" to mislead the country with his criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on foreign policy instead of presenting a united face.

DEL65 JK-CONG-LD LETTER-REAX

Omar thankful to Congress for raising J&K statehood issue ahead of Parliament session Jammu/Srinagar: Political parties on Wednesday welcomed the Congress initiative, asking the prime minister to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, as Chief minister Omar Abdullah said "we are not demanding something that was not promised to us".

DEL73 PB-FAUJA-DRIVER-4THLD ARREST

Canada-based driver of SUV that hit marathoner Fauja Singh arrested, sent to judicial custody Chandigarh: A Canada-based man, who allegedly hit world's oldest marathoner Fauja Singh fatally while driving an SUV, was arrested and sent to judicial custody, with officials saying the accused had returned home in Punjab just three weeks ago.

DES69 JK-TATKAL-OTP

Aadhaar OTP verification now mandatory for online Tatkal booking: Railways  Jammu: Railway authorities have officially mandated Aadhaar verification through OTP for online ticket bookings under the Tatkal system across the country, a senior railway official said on Wednesday.

DES31 RJ- ATHWALE MARATHI

Those bullying people for not speaking Marathi will be taught a lesson: Union Minister Athawale Jaipur: Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Wednesday said that "bullying" non-Marathi speakers in Maharashtra is wrong and the Devendra Fadnavis government will not tolerate such incidents.

MDS17 KA-OBC-CONG-LD BJP

BJP calls Cong OBC meeting 'election gimmick' for Bihar polls, challenges to name Kharge as PM face Bengaluru: Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra on Wednesday termed the two-day AICC OBC advisory council meeting held here as an "election gimmick" ahead of the Bihar polls, and challenged the grand old party to announce its president Mallikarjun Kharge as its prime ministerial candidate, to prove its commitment towards backward classes and SC/STs.

CAL59 AS-LD RAHUL

Assam CM thinks he is ‘raja’, but he will be in jail for corruption, claims Rahul Gandhi Chaygaon/ Guwahati: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday claimed that though Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma thinks he is a ‘raja’, but he will be put in jail for corruption by the people of the state.

CAL62 WB-LD MAMATA

'I will speak more Bangla now, detain me in camps if you can', Mamata ups identity pitch against BJP Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee rekindled the TMC's Bengali identity pitch and lashed out at the BJP-led Centre on Wednesday for what, she called, was its policy of harassing and mistreating Bengali-speaking people across the country.

CAL52 OD-STUDENT-LD LAMBA

Congress seeks Odisha CM's resignation over college student's death, imposition of President's Rule Bhubaneswar: Demanding the resignation of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi over the death of a female college student in Balasore district, Mahila Congress chief Alka Lamba on Wednesday said President's Rule must be imposed in the state as it was done in Manipur.

DES59 DL-FAUJA-LAST WISH

Fauja Singh's last wish was to spend his remaining days in Britain New Delhi/Jalandhar: World's oldest marathon runner Fauja Singh wanted to spend the rest of his life in Britain. His last wish could not be fulfilled. By Shashi Ranjan Thakur

DEL67 UP-SHUKS-WIFE-INTERVIEW

Shubhanshu's homecoming: Wife Kamna looks forward to simple pleasures and togetherness Lucknow: Home cooked meals, quiet family time and sharing stories from earth and beyond… that’s the kind of homecoming Kamna Shukla has planned for her astronaut husband Shubhanshu Shukla, the toast of the nation and only the second Indian to go up in space. By Manish Chandra Pandey

LEGAL LGD35 SC-MURDER-ACQUITTAL

'When human lives at stake, matter needs utmost sincerity': SC acquits death row convict New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said when "human lives are at stake and the cost is blood" the matter requires "utmost sincerity" and acquitted a man on death row for killing his family in 2013.

LGD33 SC-FILM-UDAIPUR FILES

'Udaipur Files': SC defers hearing to Jul 21, asks filmmakers to await Centre's decision New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday deferred to July 21 the matter over the movie "Udaipur Files - Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder" and asked the filmmakers to await the decision of the Centre-appointed panel to hear objections against the movie.

LGD40 SC-CRPC-POWER

Power to proceed against someone appearing guilty must be exercised cautiously: SC New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said the power to proceed against someone appearing guilty of an offence ought to be exercised with "utmost caution" and not as a tool to harass.

LGD34 DL-COURT-DEFAMATION

Defamation case against Nirmala Sithraman: Court imposes Rs 5k after complainant skips hearing New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday imposed Rs 5,000 fine on Lipika Mitra for being absent in the hearing over her criminal defamation complaint against Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

LGD44 ED-HC-NBW

AgustaWestland case: Delhi HC reserves order on accused plea to quash NBW New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on a plea filed by businessman and AgustaWestland case accused Shravan Gupta who sought quashing of a non-bailable warrant in a money laundering case probed by the ED, officials said.

LGD43 SC-UPHAAR TRAGEDY-TRAUMA CENTRE

Uphaar tragedy: Rs 60 crore paid by Ansal bros for trauma centre utilised, says Delhi govt New Delhi: The Delhi government on Wednesday informed the Supreme Court that the Rs 60 crore paid by Ansal brothers for constructing a trauma centre in Dwarka area of the capital in memory of 1997 Uphaar fire tragedy victims had been utilised.

LGD42 DL-HC-CASE FINE

Delhi HC fines woman for 'casually' filing sexual offence case against live-in partner New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has fined a woman with Rs 20,000 for "casually" filing a case of sexual offence against her live-in partner.

LGD32 DL-HC-MAINTENANCE

DV Act doesn't distinguish first marriage from second on maintenance: Delhi HC New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has held that the domestic violence law doesn't distinguish first marriage from the second when it comes to paying maintenance to an estranged spouse.

FOREIGN FGN47 TRUMP-INDIA-TRADE DEAL

President Trump hints at trade deal with India soon; says US will have access to Indian market Washington: President Donald Trump has indicated that the ongoing negotiations between India and the US for a much-anticipated interim trade deal are on track and it could be sealed soon.

FGN46 UN-INDIA-PEACEKEEPERS

Lack of accountability for crimes against UN peacekeepers undermines peace efforts: India United Nations: India has underscored the urgent need for accountability in crimes against UN peacekeepers, asserting that impunity emboldens perpetrators and undermines global peace efforts. By Yoshita Singh

FGN42 UK-GANDHI-PORTRAIT

Mahatma Gandhi oil portrait fetches millions at UK auction London: A rare oil portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, believed to be the only one he sat for the artist to paint, has fetched triple its estimate at 152,800 pounds in a Bonhams auction in London. By Aditi Khanna

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