HIGHLIGHTS

Following are top stories at 1700 hours:

TOP STORIES

DEL39 CAG-2NDLD RAFALE NDA's Rafale deal 2.86% cheaper than price negotiated by UPA in 2007: CAG

New Delhi: The Rafale deal signed by the Modi government to procure 36 fighter jets from France's Dassault got 2.86 per cent cheaper price than what was negotiated during the previous UPA regime in 2007, the much-awaited CAG report on the controversy-hit transaction showed on Wednesday.

DEL19 POL-JAITLEY-RAFALE Lies of 'Mahajhootbandhan' stand exposed by CAG report on Rafale: Jaitley

New Delhi: Union Minister Arun Jaitley Wednesday said the lies of the Congress and opposition parties stand exposed by the CAG report on Rafale, which reaffirms the dictum that truth shall prevail.

DEL21 CONG-LD SONIA 'Bluff, bluster, intimidation' have been Modi govt's philosophy: Sonia Gandhi

New Delhi: Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that "bluff, bluster and intimidation" have been Modi government's philosophy and hailed party president Rahul Gandhi for taking opponents "head-on".

NATION

DEL34 JK-SCHOOL-BLAST Blast at school in Pulwama, at leats 12 students injured

Srinagar: A blast at a private school in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district left at leat 12 students injured Wednesday, police said.

DEL22 PAR-CITIZENSHIP-LAPSE Citizenship amendment bill, triple talaq bill set to lapse on June 3

New Delhi: The contentious Citizenship (amendment) Bill and the one on banning triple talaq are set to lapse on June 3 when the term of the present Lok Sabha ends as they could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha which adjourned sine die on Wednesday.

DEL25 RAHUL-LD RAFALE PM's defence on pricing of Rafale deal 'demolished': Rahul

New Delhi: Stepping up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale issue, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday cited a media report to claim that the PM's argument of better pricing and faster delivery of the jets to defend the deal has been "demolished".

CAL4 AS-BILL-HIMANTA Not passing Citizenship Bill in Rajya Sabha a defeat for Assam: Himanta

Dudhnoi: Assam Finance Minister and senior BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma Wednesday said not passing the Citizenship Bill in Rajya Sabha is a defeat for Assam and claimed without it 17 assembly seats in the state will go to Bangladeshi Muslims.

DEL38 RJ-GUJJARS-2ND LD-QUOTA Rajasthan Assembly passes Gujjar quota bill

Jaipur: The Rajasthan Assembly Wednesday passed a bill giving a five per cent quota in government jobs and educational institutes to Gujjars and four other communities agitating for it.

DEL30 DL-AAP-RALLY Mamata, other Opposition leaders take part in mega rally in Delhi

New Delhi: Senior opposition leaders, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, took part in a mega rally organised by the Aam Aadmi Party here on Wednesday against the "dictatorial" attitude of the central government.

PAR18 LS-TMC WB chit fund scam: Left, Cong in war of words with TMC

New Delhi: Chit fund scams in West Bengal echoed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, with Left and Congress members accusing the Trinamool Congress of looting money of investors.

PAR11 PAR-LD BUDGET

Parliament passes Interim Budget 2019-20 New Delhi: Parliament Wednesday approved Modi Government's sixth and final Budget that gave Income Tax rebate to those earning up to Rs 5 lakh, an annual cash dole of Rs 6,000 to small farmers and pension for unorganised sector workers.

MDS1 LD KARNATAKA

Karna assembly speaker compares himself to rape survivor Bengaluru:Karnataka assembly speaker

Ramesh Kumar Tuesday compared himself to a rape survivor having to undergo repeated questioning as he referred to repeated charges against him being part of the controversial audio tapes, over which government has constituted an SIT.

CAL1 MN-BILL-CURFEW

Curfew continues in Imphal amid stir over Citizenship Bill Imphal: Prohibitory orders imposed in Manipur capital Imphal continued for the second day on Wednesday even as defiant locals came out on the streets in large numbers to protest against the Citizenship Bill, officials said.

LEGAL

LGD4 SC-LD ACTIVISTS

Koregaon-Bhima case: SC sets aside Bombay HC order refusing extension of time to file charge sheet New Delhi: The Supreme Court Wednesday set aside the Bombay High Court order refusing to grant 90 days extension to Maharashtra Police for filing the charge sheet in the Koregaon-Bhima violence case.

FORIEGN

FGN13 US-LD LANKA

US commander seeks sustained engagement with Sri Lanka Washington:A top US commander has advocated sustained American engagement with Sri Lanka despite the political and ethnic turmoil in the island nation posing a challenge to bilateral ties, amid increasing Chinese influence in the strategically important Indo-Pacific region.By Lalit K Jha

SPORTS

SPD2 SPO-BAD-LAKSHYA

Teen shuttler Lakshya eyes top 30 ranking by year end Guwahati: Making a transition into the senior circuit this year, India's teen badminton sensation Lakshya Sen says he needs to work on his speed and stamina as he eyes to break into the top 30 BWF ranking by the year end.By Amit Kumar Das

PTI

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