QWrap: Aadhaar Deadline Extended; Sonia’s Dinner Diplomacy
From extension of the Aadhaar deadline to Sonia Gandhi’s call for a united Opposition, the top headlines of the day.
Video Editor: Vishal Kumar
1. SC Indefinitely Extends Deadline for Linking Aadhaar to Services
The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, 13 March, extended the 31 March deadline for linking Aadhaar to essential services until the disposal of the matter. The apex court said that the mandatory linking of Aadhaar with bank accounts and mobile phones has been extended indefinitely.
However, for subsidies or direct benefit transfers, the SC clarified that Aadhaar would remain mandatory.
(For more updates, click here)
2. Amitabh Bachchan Advised a Day’s Rest After Falling Ill in Jodhpur
Amitabh Bachchan has reportedly fallen ill during a shoot in Jodhpur for Vijay Krishna Acharya's upcoming film – Thugs of Hindostan.
While there were conflicting accounts about the veteran actor’s exact condition, with some reports suggesting that he will be flown back to Mumbai, it has now been confirmed that a team of doctors has been rushed to Jodhpur to check on Bachchan. According to latest reports, the actor is said to be stable post a medical check-up, and has been advised a day’s rest before resuming the shoot.
(Read full story here)
3. Sonia’s Dinner Diplomacy? Leaders of 17 Oppn Parties Invited Today
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi has invited Opposition leaders to dinner at her residence on Tuesday, 13 March.
The dinner, at 10 Janpath, is likely to be attended by leaders of 17 Opposition parties, and is expected to set the tone of a united opposition to take on the BJP-led NDA ahead of the 2019 general elections.
(Get live updates here)
4. 6 Remarks by Naresh Agrawal Which Angered the BJP, the Party He Joined
Former Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Naresh Agrawal marked his entry into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with a controversy, as he said, "Dancers and film actors were preferred over (him) for the nominations for the Upper House of Parliament.”
The remarks, made at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, referred to the nomination of actor Jaya Bachchan by the SP for a Rajya Sabha seat from Uttar Pradesh, ignoring Agrawal's claim.
But as it turns out, Agrawal is no stranger to controversy, having made bizarre statements all too often. What is even more interesting is that many of his controversial remarks have been made against Narendra Modi and the BJP, of which he is now a part.
(Watch full video here)
5. Sukma Maoist Attack: 9 CRPF Personnel Killed in Chhattisgarh
Nine personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed in an IED blast, when suspected Maoists blew up their mine-protected vehicle (MPV) in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Tuesday, 13 March, an official told PTI.
Six CRPF jawans were also reportedly injured in the explosion, of which four were critical, ANI reported.
The blast occurred when a team of CRPF's 212th Battalion was patrolling in a forest in Kistaram area of Sukma, located around 500 km from Raipur, a paramilitary official told PTI.
(Read full story here)
6. The Neelesh Misra Show: 3 Heroes Making the World a Better Place
Heroes need not have flying capes and super cars, they live among us, silently fighting their own battles every day. The Quint, in association with India’s biggest rural media platform, Gaon Connection, brings you the third episode of the ‘The Neelesh Misra Show.’
The latest episode tells you the stories of three such heroes, Abhinav Shreyan, Afroz Shahand and John Hakim, who are making sure the world is a better place to live, without expecting anything in return.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)