HIGHLIGHTS

DEL99 PM-PRABHUPADA Indias mantra of unity in diversity is so comprehensive there is no scope for division PM Modi New Delhi Indias mantra of unity in diversity is so comprehensive that there is no scope for division in it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday and asserted that development and heritage will continue to march together as the country moves forward.

Following are the top stories at 9.20 pm: NATION: DEL166 ECONOMY-LDALL WHITE PAPER/BLACK PAPER **** 'White Paper' vs 'Black Paper': Centre-Cong blame game over economy management in NDA, UPA rule New Delhi: A 'White Paper' versus 'Black Paper' battle erupted on Thursday as the Centre and the Congress unveiled documents and crossed swords over the handling of the Indian economy during the nearly 10 years of the BJP-led NDA rule and the previous 10-year tenure of the Congress-led UPA government. **** PAR47 LS-2ND LD SC ST BILL **** Parliament passes bills to amend SC, ST lists in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha New Delhi: Parliament gave its nod to two bills which seek to modify the list of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, with Lok Sabha on Thursday passing it with voice vote. **** DEL153 PB-FARMERS-MINISTERS **** Team of 3 Union ministers meets Punjab farmer leaders Chandigarh: A three-member team of Union ministers on Thursday met leaders of farmer organisations which plan 'Delhi Chalo' march to press for their demands, including enactment of a law to guarantee a minimum support price for crops. **** DEL163 UKD-MADRASA-VIOLENCE **** U'khand: Curfew in Haldwani after violence erupts over demolition of 'illegally built' madrasa Haldwani (Uttarakhand): A curfew was imposed here on Thursday as violence erupted in the city's Banbhoolpura area over the demolition of an ''illegally built'' madrasa, officials said. **** DEL146 MEA-INDIA-MALDIVES-TROOPS **** India to replace military personnel in Maldives with civilian technical people New Delhi: India will replace its military personnel operating three aviation platforms in the Maldives with ''competent'' Indian technical personnel even as New Delhi asserted that it remained an important development partner of the island nation. **** DEL161 RAHUL-LD BJP **** BJP dismisses Rahul Gandhi's OBC charge against PM Modi as 'blatant lie' New Delhi: The BJP on Thursday rubbished as ''blatant lie'' Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi got his caste included in the list of Other Backward Classes in Gujarat when he was the state's chief minister. **** DEL155 BJP-WHITE PAPER **** BJP likely to launch nation-wide campaign to highlight white paper details New Delhi: The BJP is likely to launch a nationwide campaign around the 'white paper' tabled in Parliament on Thursday by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. **** PAR43 RS-CHAIRMAN-FAREWELL **** RS Chairman Dhankhar bids 68 members farewell, says all would be missed New Delhi: Fondly remembering the contribution of retiring members from the Rajya Sabha, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday said the wisdom shared by them would be greatly missed and their departure would leave a void. **** DEL99 PM-PRABHUPADA **** India's mantra of unity in diversity is so comprehensive there is no scope for division: PM Modi New Delhi: India's mantra of unity in diversity is so comprehensive that there is no scope for division in it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday and asserted that development and heritage will continue to march together as the country moves forward. **** BOM27 MH-JARANGE-BHUJBAL **** Will challenge Mandal commission if Bhujbal keeps obstructing Maratha quota: Jarange Nashik: Quota activist Manoj Jarange on Thursday said he will ''challenge Mandal commission'' if Maharashtra minister and OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal created hurdles in the way of reservation for the Maratha community.

**** BOM20 MP-FACTORY-BLAST-TOLL **** Toll in MP firecracker unit blast reaches 12 after woman's body found; seven still missing Harda: The death toll in blast at a firecracker unit in Harda in Madhya Pradesh reached 12 on Thursday after the body of an unidentified woman was found from a home near the site, while seven persons continue to be missing, officials said. **** CAL24 BH-MINISTER-SPEAKER **** Bihar minister denies assembly Speaker’s claim on no-confidence motion Patna: Senior JD (U) leader and Bihar minister Shrawan Kumar on Thursday rejected the claim of assembly Speaker Awadh Bihari Choudhary that he came to know about the no-confidence motion against himself “only on Wednesday” and could take his time in deciding on the matter which, as per rules, has to be sorted out within 14 days of the receipt of the notice. **** LEGAL: LGD22 SC-QUOTA-LD SUB CLASSIFICATION **** State can't be selective in granting quota to backward classes as it will lead to appeasement: SC New Delhi: The Supreme Court, examining whether states can sub-classify the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for the grant of a quota within a quota, said on Thursday that the state governments cannot be selective in granting reservation benefits to backward classes as it will lead to a dangerous trend of appeasement. **** LGD9 UP-COURT-LD GYANVAPI **** Varanasi court to hear plea against worship in Gyanvapi mosque cellar on Feb 15 Varanasi: A Varanasi court on Thursday fixed February 15 as the date for hearing the Gyanvapi Masjid committee's plea against the recently allowed 'puja' in a cellar of the mosque, the Hindu side counsel said. **** FOREIGN: FGN78 MALDIVES-SC-IMPEACHMENT **** Reprieve for Muizzu as Maldives' Supreme Court suspends impeachment amendment Male: In a respite for Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, the Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the suspension of a recent amendment to Parliament’s standing orders that had made it easier for the opposition lawmakers to impeach the president and the vice president, local media reports said. **** FGN72 PAK-4THLD ELECTIONS **** Pakistan: Counting begins in general election marred by sporadic violence Islamabad: Counting of votes began in Pakistan following conclusion of the polling on Thursday in an election marred by crackdown on jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan's party, sporadic violence and connectivity issues after the government suspended mobile and internet services to foil suspected terror attacks. By Sajjad Hussain ****