In a show of solidarity, nine opposition parties — Trinamool Congress, CPI(M), CPI, JD(U), RJD, NCP, RSP, Muslim League and Aam Aadmi Party — have decided to boycott the Lok Sabha for the next five days to protest against the suspension of 25 Congress MPs. The Congress, which has decided to boycott the House for the rest of the week, is also talking to the Samajwadi Party in this connection. Congress MPs from both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha will hold a protest in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament on Tuesday.

Sensex slips, banking stocks fall ahead of RBI policy

Markets have opened the session on a cautious note tracking weakness among the global peers on the back of downbeat US economic data and disappointing manufacturing data from China. Meanwhile, investors are keenly awaiting for the RBI monetary policy announcement at 11 am. The S&P BSE Sensex is down 124.23 points, or 0.44%, to 28,062.83. The BSE Bankex is the biggest lower among sectoral indices, down 0.5%. Meanwhile, the central bank policy review is expected to yield little in the way of action, but its statement will be pored over for clues as to whether there is a chance of another interest rate cut this year.

Modi govt gives in on land bill provisions

In a major climbdown and giving in to sustained Opposition pressure, the government on Monday agreed to drop most of its contentious amendments to the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, bringing back the crucial consent and social impact assessment clauses. All the 11 BJP members of the joint committee of Parliament which is looking into the Bill moved amendments seeking to bring back the SIA and consent clauses. Public pressure and a united opposition forced the government to accept the changes. It is also due to coming Bihar elections, where land bill could become an issue.

Somnath Bharti kicks up row with 'beautiful women' comment

Former Delhi law minister Somnath Bharti on Monday created a flutter by saying that "beautiful women" would be able to go out at midnight provided Aam Aadmi Party government takes over policing system in the national capital. "I am fully confident that if Delhi government is given full freedom (over security), beautiful women will be able to go out even after midnight without any fear. "We will provide a fully-secure Delhi..." Somnath Bharti said during a discussion on setting up of 'Commission of Inquiry' in the Delhi Assembly.

Govt signs peace accord with Naga group NSCN (IM)

In a major breakthrough, the Union government on Monday inked an accord with one of the largest insurgent groups in the country’s northeast, paving the way to end one of India’s longest running insurgencies. Thuingaleng Muivah, one of the leaders of the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) group, signed the pact with R.N. Ravi, the interlocutor appointed by the National Democratic Alliance government last year. The government and the NSCN-IM implemented a ceasefire in 1997.

Blocking of porn sites temporary, final call after SC ruling

The order to block 857 porn websites issued to all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) on Friday is a temporary measure, and not a ban on those websites.The websites have only disabled and not banned. The government is waiting for the supreme) court ruling on the case before taking a final decision. Meanwhile, civil society activists criticized the move. “There is no difference between banning and disabling a website URL,"said Pranesh Prakash, policy director at the Centre for Internet and Society. “Even a temporary infraction of a right is still an infraction. It seems to me that the government did not need to do this at all. There was no direction or ruling from the court," he said.

Civilian killed in Pakistan firing

A 20-year-old man was killed as Pakistani troops fired at a dozen Indian posts this morning as two terrorists were stopped from crossing over to Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. The Border Security Force (BSF) claims that the terrorists were seen at night and early this morning near the International Border in Kanachak; they were hiding behind thick vegetation. Later at around 5 am, Pakistan Rangers started shelling and firing at posts in the Pargwal and Kanachak sectors.This is the second ceasefire violation by Pakistan in less than 48 hours.