Here are some important reports from the biggest newspapers of India.
1.) Jaitley will sink you, leave him: Kejriwal's advice to Modi
Continuing his protest against 1 per cent excise duty on non-silver jewellery introduced by the Centre, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the BJP and the Congress were no different. He also had words of advice for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was going to sink his ship.
Addressing jewellers at Jantar Mantar Sunday, Kejriwal said, "They (aggrieved jewellers) have met all the MPs and Union ministers. They have all said that they are with them, but the PM is not listening to them."
"Pata nahin Jaitleyji ne kya paath padhaya hai. Jaitleyji has full control. I am younger in age and smaller in stature and experience. Lekin chhota moonh badi baat keh raha hoon, Jaitleyji ka saath chhod dein… Dooba dega aapko (His company will sink you)," said Kejriwal in remarks directed at Modi, the Indian Express reported.
2.) If no law, would have cut the heads of those who don't say 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai': Ramdev
Referring to Muslims who refuse to chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai', yoga guru Ramdev on Sunday said if the country didn't have laws, "hum toh lakhon ki gardan kaat sakte hain (we would have decapitated lakhs)". He also said "if any religion says that do not honour the motherland, such a religion is also not in the interest of this country".
According to the Indian Express, Ramdev made remarks at the Sadbhavna rally organised by the RSS to restore peace, harmony and brotherhood in Haryana which was witness to violence in February in the wake of the Jat reservation agitation.
3.) Poll politics? PM to share dais with 17 Dalit MPs
BJP virtually rang the UP assembly poll bells with the announcement of a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Noida on April 5, to launch the Stand Up India scheme and distribute e-rickshaws. A copy of the plan of the dais from which Modi will address the audience, issued by the PMO, offers an insight into the possible focus of the party's campaign in the state.
Present on stage alongside the PM will be 17 party MPs elected from seats reserved for scheduled castes. With the 20% Dalit population of the state expected to play a decisive role in the assembly polls in 2017, and former chief minister and Dalit leader Mayawati seen as a major force, BJP's tactics are obvious. Mayawati's Dalit votebank is a serious challenge for BJP in the battle for UP, reports the Times of India.
4.) World's first sanctuary for white tigers opens in MP
Politicians share space with white tigers on hoardings put up across Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, in preparation for the opening of the world's first white tiger sanctuary. As thousands converged for the inauguration on Sunday, shouting slogans, the ceremony began to resemble an election rally, The Times of India reports. Fairly so, for locals say the white tiger has been an election issue here for years now.
The 25-hectare sanctuary at Mukundpur, 20km from Rewa, is currently home to only one white tiger, Vindhya. There are two others in an adjoining zoo. Locals in Rewa consider the white tiger - the colour of whose coat is the result of a genetic aberration - a part of the city's legacy. The first such big cat was spotted here by erstwhile king Martand Singh in 1951. The royal family named him Mohan, and he became “a pet, a family member“, says Pushpraj Singh, Martand's son. Mohan's cubs were thereafter distributed to zoos in India and abroad. They were reportedly inbred to create a white tiger progeny. But they disappeared completely from Rewa in 1976.
5.) Mallya's Rs 4k cr offer doesn't interest banks
Vijay Mallya needs to double the settlement offer he's made to the 17-lender group that's seeking repayment of more than Rs 9,000 crore in dues stemming from loans made to Kingfisher Airlines, the grounded carrier founded by him.
As per a report in The Economic Times, the Rs 4,000-crore offer presented in the Supreme Court last week isn't good enough in the view of the banks, said two people familiar with discussions among lenders on Saturday. The confidential proposal included pay cluded payment of Rs 2,000 crore by September and the rest subject to conditions. The bankers have to respond to the proposal at the next Supreme Court hearing scheduled for April 7.
6.) Over 60 financial giants line up to partner with India Post
The vast legacy network of India Post, once perceived to be unwanted baggage and a huge financial burden, is turning out to be its biggest strength. Top global financial firms Barclays, Citibank, Deutsche Bank, Western Union, Visa and domestic giants State Bank of India and Punjab National Bank are among over five dozen companies that have queued up to partner with the payments bank arm of the country's postal department, The Times of India reports.
Even the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, has shown interest in picking up a stake in the business.
7.) Private airlines can now bid for loss-making routes
Private Indian airlines will be allowed to bid for operations on loss-making regional routes where the government will provide subsidy as part of the regional connectivity plan, a top aviation ministry official said. This will be the first time private carriers will be allowed to bid for these routes and claim government subsidy. At present, only state-run national carrier Air India gets subsidy for providing connectivity in the northeastern region.
The decision is a part of the rules that will govern the regional connectivity plan, which the government plans to implement as soon as the Civil Aviation Policy is approved. It will override the draft aviation policy's proposal to create a scheduled commuter airline category for the purpose, said the aviation ministry official, who did not wish to be identified. The Economic Times reports.
8.) Before battling heat, Mumbai's AC locals to face rodent test
The new AC local train, which will soon reach Mumbai, could face challenges like rodent attacks when it will be parked at the Kurla car shed for a month before launch.
Mumbaikars, get ready to battle this heat in the city’s first air- conditioned local train, which left Chennai on Friday to reach Mumbai on Monday or Tuesday. But the railways may not launch it right way. The Central Railway authorities have a list of month-long tasks they have planned for the 12-car train, which will be parked in the Kurla car shed as soon as it arrives.
As per a report in the Mid-Day, the silver-blue coloured AC local train, that’s worth Rs 55 crore, will first undergo a test by BHEL and its associates. The train’s air- conditioning – powered by two 15- tonne roofmounted packaging units in each coach and the entire rake would have 24 such units – shall also be inspected. Also, functioning of doors, software updates from the motorman cab, quality of seats and other technical details would be still in Kurla.
9.) Only six women judges in apex court out of 229 in 66 years
Shani Shingnapur village in Maharashtra is the latest battlefield for women's equality. Several attempts by women to enter the Shani temple to break the custom that bars their entry have met with resistance. Ironically, the ancient temple is dedicated to Saturn, a planet that astrologically governs the character and well-being of people without discriminating between man and woman.
It is difficult to say whether women's entry into a temple will usher in equality in a country that has for centuries discriminated among human beings on the basis of gender, caste, colour, creed, lineage and money. The Times of India reports.
10.) AOL says will pay fine only after damage assessment
Sri Sri Ravishankar’s Art of Living Foundation says it won’t pay the remainder of the Rs 5 crore compensation until a scientific assessment of the damage is made, proposing instead to furnish a bank guarantee. The National Green Tribunal had fined the organisation for holding a grand fest on the Yamuna floodplain. It paid Rs 25 lakh on the day of the event and the remaining was to be paid by April 1, The Hindustan Times reports.
The foundation has sent an application to the tribunal to modify its March 9 order and accept a bank guarantee instead. It said it was preparing a proposal to conduct a scientific study to assess the damage to the floodplain.
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