LEAD

With the ambit of the G23 growing, the Gandhis have now reached out to the “rebel” camp with an indication that the leaders will be included in important decision-making bodies, such as the crucial Central Election Committee (CEC). But, the mellowing comes with a condition – G23 leaders have been advised not to make public statements against the Gandhis and party leadership.

The development comes as the G23 met for the second time in the last 24 hours on Thursday evening. After the meeting, the group stressed on the fact that it did not want a split in the party, but said it had to be impressed upon the Gandhis that “things have to change”.

According to sources, the increasing membership of the G23 has made the Gandhis sit up and take note. News18 has learnt that the Gandhi family is reaching out to the rebel camp through “emissaries”. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi might even meet some G23 leaders individually in the coming days, sources added.

With the new surge in Covid-19 cases being reported in several countries, including China raising an alarm bell for India, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting with top members of India’s Covid-19 task force and directed them to maintain a high level of alertness in the country, the Indian Express has learnt.

While the Indian government is monitoring the situation closely about the new wave in Covid-19 cases being reported in China, South Korea, Singapore, and a few European countries —— on Wednesday, the first official high-level meeting was held with top members of the Covid-19 task force to discuss the evolving global scenario of a fresh surge in cases.

A meeting of top BJP leaders is underway at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official residence in New Delhi. The meeting has been convened to discuss government formation in the four states where BJP retained power in the recently-concluded assembly elections.

Apart from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP national president JP Nadda and the party's National General Secretary (Organisation), BL Santhosh, are attending the meeting.

On Monday, the BJP's parliamentary board appointed Amit Shah as the central observer for UP and BJP vice-president Raghubar Das as co-observer. Rajnath Singh was appointed the central observer for Uttarakhand and Kiren Rijiju for Manipur.

India's ambitious project to have a fifth generation indigenous fighter aircraft is on course with the decks cleared for a nod from the Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The process for obtaining the Cabinet Committee on Security's (CCS) approval for design and prototype development of Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) has been initiated," the Ministry of Defence said in a written reply to a parliament question.

The Ministry of Defence in its reply stated that the fifth generation fighter aircraft is costlier than its predecessors due to its special features. "Since AMCA is an indigenous 5th Generation aircraft, it is less costly than similar aircraft available outside," the defence ministry said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Yogi Adityanath on BJP's massive victory in Uttar Pradesh in the recently held Assembly polls. Adityanath met PM Modi on Sunday (March 13) during his first visit to Delhi after the UP poll results. 

Sharing a picture with the UP CM, Modi tweeted, "Met Yogi Adityanath ji today. Congratulated him on the historic victory in the Uttar Pradesh elections. In the last 5 years, he has worked tirelessly to fulfill the aspirations of the people. I am sure that in the years to come, he will take the state to greater heights of development." 

Adityanath also took to Twitter to share his photograph with the PM and thanked the "world's most popular politician" for meeting him.