New Delhi, Apr 6 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 1.15 pm NATION CAL21 AS-POLL-PM (12.35 pm)

Cong keeps singing to Pakistan's tunes, compromising nation's security: PM in Assam Bhabnipur-Sorbhog (Assam): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that while his government has carried out Operation Sindoor on terror camps in Pakistan, the Congress keeps on "singing to the tune of" the neighbouring country.

DEL11 RS-OATH (12.09 pm)

New Rajya Sabha members take oath New Delhi: NCP-SCP leader Sharad Pawar and Union Minister Ramdas Athawale were among 19 new Rajya Sabha members who took oath here on Monday.

DEL12 RAHUL-LPG-GOVT (12.18 pm)

Modi govt's handling of 'LPG crisis' is like it dealt with Covid pandemic; puts burden on poor: Rahul New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dealt with the "LPG gas crisis" just like it handled the COVID-19 pandemic as it is "devoid of policy, full of grand announcements", and places the "entire burden" upon the poor.

DEL7 RAHUL-DATA-GOVT (10.32 am)

India kept in dark: Rahul slams govt on data sovereignty New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday raised concerns over India's data sovereignty and asserted that the country should be leading the global tech race, but instead it is being kept in the dark about how its data will be protected.

BOM2 MH-WASIA-SEAFARER-REMAINS (8.46 am)

Mortal remains of seafarer killed in drone boat attack reach Mumbai Mumbai: The mortal remains of 25-year-old seafarer Dixit Solanki, killed in a suspected drone boat attack off the Oman coast last month during West Asia war, have reached Mumbai, the National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) said on Monday.

BOM4 MH-BYPOLL-CONGRESS (11.06 am)

Baramati bypoll: May withdraw from fray if FIR registered in Ajit Pawar plane crash, says Congress Mumbai: The Maharashtra Congress on Monday said it will consider withdrawing from the Baramati assembly bypoll if a first information report (FIR) is registered in the plane crash that killed former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

BOM6 MH-SENA UBT-CONG (12.16 pm)

Congress slams Sena (UBT) for accusing it of using regional allies as ‘crutches’ Mumbai: The Congress on Monday hit out at the Shiv Sena (UBT) over the latter's accusation that the grand old party was using regional outfits as "crutches", and not treating them as "equal stakeholders" in the Opposition alliance.

CAL22 AS-POLLS-HIMANTA-LD CONG (12.36 pm)

Cong concocted charges against my wife using false info from Pak social media group: Assam CM Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday claimed the Congress has concocted the charge that his wife has multiple passports and owns properties in Dubai, using false information from a Pakistani social media group.

CAL13 JH-IED-EXPLOSION (11.47 am)

CRPF's CoBra jawan injured in IED explosion in J'khand's West Singhbhum Chaibasa: A jawan of CRPF's CoBRA battalion was injured when an IED planted by CPI (Maoists) exploded in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district, a police officer said on Monday.

MDS18 TN-POLLS-UDHAYANIDHI (11.52 am)

TN will never accept Hindi imposition, says Udhayanidhi Stalin Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu): Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Monday hit out at Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for criticising Chief Minister M K Stalin on the language row and said the state will never accept the three-language formula, but will follow the dual language policy of Tamil and English.

MDS4 KL-BHAGWAT (10.58 am)

Nation's prosperity key to individual progress: Mohan Bhagwat Kochi: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Monday said individual prosperity can be achieved only when the country is prosperous and secure.

LEGAL LGD14 SC-VEDANTA-ADANI (12.50 pm)

SC does not interfere with order allowing Adani to acquire JAL, asks NCLAT to decide expeditiously New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday did not interfere with the order of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), which had refused to stay Adani Group's Rs 14,535 crore bid to acquire Jaiprakash Associates Ltd (JAL).

LGD13 DL-HC-PURI- EPSTEIN (12.50 pm)

Epstein links: HC refuses to entertain activist's plea against Hardeep Puri's daughter New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday rejected an activist's appeal against an order directing him to take down social media content linking Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri's daughter to convicted American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. It asked him to air his grievances before the single judge who had passed the order.

LGD12 SC-2020 RIOTS-TASLEEM (12.11 pm)

SC grants 2 more weeks to Delhi Police to file reply on bail plea of accused in 2020 riots case New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday granted two more weeks to Delhi Police to file its response on the bail pleas of Tasleem Ahmed and Abdul Khalid Saifi, accused in the February 2020 riots-related "larger conspiracy" case.

LGD5 SC-KHANDU-PROBE (11.15 am)

SC orders CBI enquiry into award of contracts to firms linked to Arunachal CM's kin New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the CBI to register a preliminary enquiry within two weeks into the award of contracts for public works in Arunachal Pradesh to firms allegedly owned by family members of Chief Minister Pema Khandu.

BUSINESS DEL8 BIZ-PMI-SERVICES (11.32 am)

India's service economy rose at softest pace in 14 months in March: PMI New Delhi: India's services sector growth momentum rose at the softest pace in 14 months in March, mirroring the slowdown in new business intakes, a monthly survey said on Monday.

FGN13 BIZ-WIPRO-OLAM GROUP (10.07 am)

Wipro bags USD 1 bn deal from Olam Group; to acquire Mindsprint for USD 375 mn Singapore/New Delhi: IT services firm Wipro has secured an eight-year transformation deal with Singapore-based food and agri-business major Olam Group, which is expected to exceed USD 1 billion (about Rs 9,314 crore) in contract value.

FOREIGN FGN19 BANGLA-INDIA-ENVOY (12.39 pm)

Indian envoy meets B’desh PM; signals positive, constructive ties Dhaka/New Delhi: Indian envoy Pranay Verma on Monday met Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and conveyed New Delhi’s intent to pursue "positive", "constructive", and people-centric ties with Dhaka based on mutual interest.

PTI RUK RUK

Insolvency-linked acquisition bid stays on appellate track as the Supreme Court seeks expedited NCLAT decision. The Supreme Court declined to interfere with the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal's order refusing to stay Adani Group's bid to acquire Jaiprakash Associates Ltd. It directed the NCLAT to decide the matter expeditiously, in relation to the insolvency-linked acquisition and interim relief sought in the appellate process.