NEWS

Following a rift with Trinamool Congress, MP Satabdi Roy was reinstated in the party on Sunday. The three-time TMC MP called a truce with the party after a brief rebellion that triggered speculations of her crossing over to the BJP. She was appointed vice-president of the West Bengal unit of the ruling Trinamool Congress on Sunday.

Expressing happiness over the news, Roy told reporters, she will work as a dedicated worker of the party and ensure defeat of the BJP in the coming assembly polls. "If you take up the matter concerning the party with the top leadership, it is addressed. this development proves that. I welcome the decision", PTI quoted Roy as saying.

Roy, an actor-turned-politician and a leading face in the Mamata Banerjee's cultural brigade, is the third consecutive term Lok Sabha member from Birbhum.

Former Karnataka chief minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy sought an apology from Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa for "ignoring Kannada language" during the foundation stone-laying event of the Bhadravathi Rapid Action Force (RAF) Centre in Shivamogga.

On Saturday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa participated in the foundation stone-laying ceremony for RAF unit in Karnataka. Kumaraswamy has alleged that Kannada language was not included on the inscription plaque unveiled on the occasion.

Kumaraswamy said both the BJP-led government at the Centre and BJP-led state government in Karnataka have "ignored" the Kannada language and betrayed the people of the state. He event went on to accuse Amit Shah for having "anti-Kannada attitude" and ignoring the "Kannada language".

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ashish Shelar hit out once again at Shiv Sena and said that the lust for power has made the Sena weak. He termed the Sena as "laachaar"(weak).

Shelar said, "We have one question to the Sena. Why did your speech and temperament change all of a sudden? You have become a weak Sena now and the people of Maharashtra are aware of this."

Meanwhile, in a surprise move, Congress state President Balashib Thorat released a hard-hitting letter targeting both Shiv Sena and BJP. Thorat, who has already expressed his displeasure towards its MVA alliance partner in the recent past hit out once again and said that Shiv Sena was worried about the votes and hence it had started the renaming match (renaming Aurangabad). Thorat further termed BJPs role in the controversy as hypocritic and said people viewed BJP's behaviour and speech for entertainment value.

Andhra Pradesh Director General Police (DGP) Gautam Sawan on Friday said that in as many as nine cases of attacks on Hindu temples in the state, the direct involvement of persons associated with political parties has been found.

Alleging Opposition parties' role behind the series of attacks on Hindu temples in the state, the DGP termed the incidents as "a campaign run by some political parties to destabilise the state government ".

Addressing media, DGP Gautam Sawan said that 15 Telugu Desam Party (TDP) members and 4 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cadres were involved in as many as nine cases of idol destruction, desecration and spreading fake news on temple-related incidents.