Former Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras on Monday announced that his party Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP) has quit BJP-led NDA. "I was ignored, and the NDA did injustice to us in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls," he stated. Paras also accused Bihar CM Nitish Kumar of being "anti-Dalit". Bihar will go to polls later this year.

A massive fire broke out at Lok Bandhu Raj Narayan Combined Hospital in UP’s Lucknow on Monday night. "Approximately 200 patients were moved to safety," Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak said. One patient died on the way while being shifted here, but the cause of the death is unknown yet, Civil Hospital Director Rajesh Srivastava said.

BJP Karnataka President BY Vijayendra has accused the Congress-led state government of spreading misinformation about the Union government to distract from its own policy failures. Defended the BJP’s record on fuel prices, he asserted that his party’s Jan Aakrosh Yatra is seeing widespread public support.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwar announced that a senior police officer will probe the alleged encounter killing of Ritesh Kumar, accused in the abduction and murder of a five-year-old girl in Hubballi. No inquiry committee will be formed. Congress leader Santosh Lad visited injured officers involved in the encounter.

As over 400 people fled their homes amid violent Waqf Act protests in West Bengal's Murshidabad, Minister Firhad Hakim said, "They're migrating within Bengal only." He said, "Sab theek hai (Everything's alright)...there was a much bigger incident that happened in Gujarat." He also said police will uncover who is behind it. At least three people have died in violence.

Karnataka Dy CM DK Shivakumar has convened a meeting of Congress MLAs from the Vokkaliga community on Tuesday to discuss the contentious 2015 caste census, amid mounting political and community tensions. The report, recently presented to the Karnataka cabinet, has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders and members of dominant communities who allege inaccuracies and political bias.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee appealed for peace to people of Bengal on Monday, saying that while citizens have every right to protest, no one should take law into their own hands. "To protect law, we have custodians and do not need any demon," she added. Her remark came after violence incident occurred in the state over Waqf Amendment Act.

Dr Reddy’s Laboratories has denied reports of a 25% workforce cost cut and alleged layoffs, calling the claims “factually incorrect.” The company clarified it is not undertaking any such measures and emphasised its commitment to regulatory transparency. Recent data shows increased hiring and employee benefit spending, countering rumours of cost-cutting in the pharma giant.

Bollywood actor Salman Khan received a fresh death threat via WhatsApp on Monday, warning of an attack on his residence and a bomb to be planted in his vehicle. The message was sent to the Mumbai Traffic Police's Worli Control Room. Mumbai Police have registered an FIR. The number was traced to a 26-year-old man in a village near Vadodara.

A CCTV footage shared by NewsX showed rioters breaking into a home after violence broke out during protest against the Waqf Act in West Bengal's Murshidabad. The rioters smashed the back door, stole money and a TV from a place 200 meters away from a local police station, NewsX reported. At least 3 people have died in violence so far.

Thanisandra Main Road, which was concretised only four years ago, is already being dug up at multiple spots, causing frustration. BBMP promised the road wouldn’t need digging for 15-20 years, but that commitment has been broken. Heavy machinery works at night, covering up the dug areas by morning with mud and gravel, leaving residents to deal with the ongoing inconvenience.

After violence broke out during protest against Waqf Act in West Bengal's Murshidabad, 24-year-old Saptami Mondol fled her home with her eight-day-old baby and is now taking refuge in Parlalpur. "We have become refugees in our own land. We may never return; what if they attack us again," she said. We are now at the mercy of others, she added.

Mehul Choksi, the fugitive businessman wanted in India in connection with the ₹13,500-crore PNB fraud case, who was arrested in Belgium, has accumulated maintenance dues of ₹63 lakh for his three Mumbai flats, a society member said. Choksi owns three apartment units at Malabar Hill's Gokul Apartments and hasn't paid maintenance for 7 years. The property was attached by ED.

Two sisters aged four and five died of suffocation inside a car on Monday in Telangana's Rangareddy after they got inside and went unnoticed for an hour at their grandparents' house. According to police, the parents came to the children's grandparents' house to discuss marriage arrangements of relatives. The parents took them to government hospital, but doctors declared them dead.

A video has surfaced online, showing vandalised and burnt houses in Murshidabad's Dhuliyan after violence broke out during protests against Waqf (Amendment) Act on April 11. Several Hindu families were forced to flee their houses after they were attacked. Security personnel have been deployed in the area, with officials saying that the situation is under control.

RBI MPC member Ram Singh's study found India's richest 5% report income that's only 4% of their actual wealth. India's wealthiest 0.1% report just 2% of their actual wealth while for bottom 10% families, reported income is over 188% of wealth, the study noted. It showed the wealthier the individual gets, the lesser income they disclose relative to their wealth.

Jharkhand Minister and JMM leader Hafizul Hassan reacted to the criticism of his "Shariat comes first for a Muslim and then Constitution of India" remark, saying it was a misinterpretation and out of context. "Shariat too has its own place. People keep Lord Hanuman in their hearts. It's a way of saying. I said something similar," he said.

Congress leader Supriya Shrinate on Monday reacted to fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi’s arrest in Belgium, saying it's meaningless until public money is recovered. She said, "The way financial fugitives have escaped from under PM Modi's nose after 2014, there should be accountability for that." Shrinate also criticised the ₹44 crore spent earlier to bring Choksi back.

A section of West Bengal’s teaching and non-teaching staff who lost their jobs after a Supreme Court verdict will participate in a sit-in protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar for a day on April 16. "We'll…try to seek time from the President of India,” one of the affected teachers said. Meanwhile, the ongoing sit-in by teachers in Kolkata will continue.

BJP Shehzad Poonawalla criticised West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee over violence in Murshidabad by those protesting against Waqf (Amendment) Act. He said, "The violence is state-sponsored, state-protected, and state-encouraged anti-Hindu violence. Instead of taking action, Mamata Banerjee and her government are not only shielding the rioters but also humiliating victims from the Hindu community."

Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, referring to the legal challenges to Waqf (Amendment) Act, said on Monday that he is confident the Supreme Court will not "venture into legislative matter". He added, "We have to respect each other...If tomorrow the govt interferes into judiciary...it won't be nice." Court had earlier said it will not trespass into legislature's domain.

After Saudi Arabia cancelled 52,000 Hajj slots for Indian pilgrims, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to engage with Saudi authorities for an "expeditious resolution". Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir leaders from ruling and opposition parties urged Centre to intervene. National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah appealed to PM Narendra Modi to speak to Saudi leader.

Rampal Kashyap, who 14 years ago vowed to walk barefoot until PM Modi became the PM and he got to meet the leader, said he felt amazing after meeting him. "It's like I've met god. I hadn’t worn footwear for 14 years," he added. PM Modi met him on Monday and made him wear his shoes.

India and China have started talks to resume direct air services, with first round of discussions concluded, according to Civil Aviation Secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam. The talks are in early stages, and no dates have been set yet due to unresolved issues. Direct flights were suspended after Covid-19 and 2020 border clashes. Before suspension, India and China operated multiple direct flights.

In Jammu and Kashmir, leaders from ruling and opposition parties have urged Centre to intervene after Saudi Arabia cancelled 52,000 Hajj slots for Indian pilgrims. J&K CM Omar Abdullah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti called for swift action to ease distress. National Conference President Farooq Abdullah also appealed to PM Narendra Modi to speak with Saudi Arabia to restore quota.