HIGHLIGHTS at 2100 HRS

Following are the top stories at 2100 hrs:

TOP STORIES

LGD26 SC-3RD LD ART 370 Article 370: Change in J&K status comes under judicial scrutiny of SC's Constitutional bench

New Delhi: The Centre's decision to change the Constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir came under the legal scrutiny on Wednesday with the Supreme Court referring a batch of pleas against the abrogation of Article 370 for hearing in first week of October by its five-judge bench.

DEL84 RUSSIA-LD INDIA-KASHMIR Russia comes out in strong support of India on Kashmir

New Delhi: Russia on Wednesday said India's withdrawal of special status to Jammu and Kashmir was its sovereign decision and an internal matter and Moscow's position on the issue is 100 per cent identical to New Delhi's stance.

DEL68 GOVT-JK-2NDLD GOM GoM on J-K?

New Delhi: A group of ministers has been constituted by the Centre to look into development, economic and social issues in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, two top government functionaries told PTI on Wednesday but an official spokesperson said no such decision has been taken.

FGN31 INDOPAK-JAISHANKAR India hopes Pakistan would become a 'normal' neighbour: Jaishankar

Moscow: India hopes that Pakistan would one day become a "normal" neighbour, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said as he censured Islamabad for using terrorism as a "diplomatic tool" against the country.

DEL76 LDALL CHIDAMBARAM Chidambaram playing 'victim card', no witch-hunt in INX Media PMLA case: ED to SC

New Delhi: Former finance minister P Chidambaram is "playing the victim card" to prevent the ED from arresting him in the money laundering case related to INX Media and there is no witch-hunt, the probe agency said on Wednesday, alleging money laundering in this matter is going on even now.

NATION

DEL63 BJP-LD RAHUL Rahul insulted India, gave Pakistan handle to target it on Kashmir: BJP

New Delhi: The BJP on Wednesday accused Rahul Gandhi of "insulting and shaming" India, and said he gave Pakistan a "handle" to target the country in the United Nations by alleging violence and death of people in Kashmir.

DEL79 KASHMIR-LD GOVERNOR JK Governor justifies restrictions, says 50k to be hired for govt jobs

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik assured the people of the state on Wednesday that there identity and culture would be preserved and justified the imposition of severe restrictions after the Centre abrogated provisions of Article 370, saying it was done to prevent any loss of life.

DEL70 UP-GIRL-SPOTTED Chinmayanand case: UP police claim missing girl spotted in Delhi

Shahjahanpur (UP): Uttar Pradesh Police on Wednesday claimed that the student who went missing after levelling allegations that she was being harassed by BJP leader Swami Chinmayanand has been spotted at a Delhi hotel.

LEGAL

LGD31 SC-2NDLD TARIGAMI SC allows Yechury to visit JK to meet party colleague Tarigami

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury to visit Jammu and Kashmir to meet his ailing party colleague Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami while brushing aside the Centre's claim that it might "endanger the situation" in the state.

LGD32 SC-AYODHYA Babur neither visited Ayodhya nor constructed mosque by demolishing temple: Hindu body tells SC

New Delhi: Mughal emperor Babur neither visited Ayodhya nor ordered demolition of the temple to construct a mosque in 1528 at the disputed Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri masjid site, a Hindu body claimed before the Supreme Court on Wednesday. By Sanjeev Kumar

FOREIGN

FGN25 JAISHANKAR-2NDLD RUSSIA Jaishankar holds talks with Russian counterpart; reviews preparation for PM Modi's visit

Moscow: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday reviewed the preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the country next week and discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest.

FGN16 UK-PARLIAMENT-2NDLD BREXIT Boris Johnson seeks Parliament suspension until Oct 14 London: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday sought a suspension of Parliament until October 14 to present what he described as a new bold and ambitious legislative agenda, just two weeks before the Brexit deadline. By Aditi Khanna.