NEWS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on Central agencies to strengthen “zero tolerance” policy towards corruption and said there should be no safe havens for those committing crimes against the country.

Addressing a joint conference of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Modi said his government aimed to further reduce “compliances and [the requirement of] No Objection Certificates (NOC)” which were primarily responsible for the “web of corruption”.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Wednesday the matter pertaining to the October 3 violence in Lakhimpur Kheri in which eight persons, including four farmers, were killed during a farmers' protest.

A bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli, which had on October 8 expressed dissatisfaction over the steps taken by the Uttar Pradesh government in the ‘brutal’ murder of eight persons, would hear the matter.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Wednesday inaugurate the Kushinagar International Airport at the site of Lord Buddha's Parinirvana in Uttar Pradesh. The move is aimed at boosting tourism on the Buddhist circuit on the back of three markers for economic development - trade, tourism, and technology. The inauguration event today is expected to be attended by the ambassadors of at least 10-15 countries where Buddhism is practised and preached. More than 100 priests and eight high priests from Sri Lanka, led by the country's prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's son Namal, will also be present.

Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday announced that he would launch his own political party soon and hinted at a possible alliance with the BJP for the 2022 state election if the Centre rolls back the three farm laws.

"The battle for Punjab's future is on. Will soon announce the launch of my own political party to serve the interests of Punjab and its people, including our farmers who've been fighting for their survival for over a year," Amarinder Singh's media advisor Raveen Thukral said in a tweet.