The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday walked out of the Rajya Sabha over remarks made by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker Nishikant Dubey about the party’s founder and former Odisha chief minister Biju Patnaik.. Biju Janata Dal MP Sasmit Patra speaks in the Rajya Sabha during the second part of the Budget session of Parliament. (Sansad TV). As soon as the house gathered, BJD’s Sasmit Patra said, “We want to place on record our serious protest against the disparaging, false and concocted statements by Nishikant Dubey against Biju Patnaik”.. “This is the level that the ruling party has fallen to… this is utterly shameful,” he said, announcing that the party was walking out.. On Sunday, Patra resigned from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications & IT in which is headed by Dubey, in protest against the disparaging remarks against Patnaik.. Also Read:Biju Naveen Foundation: Patnaik clarifies timing amid BJP attack over intent. Although the BJD was not a part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), as a neutral party, it supported the government in key legislative issues.. Meanwhile, Dubey said he did not make any allegations against Patnaik.. “Biju Patnaik ji was a tall freedom fighter, and the BJP showed full respect to him… When Congress did injustice with Biju Babu, Jan Sangh and BJP stood by him… I repeat that I am releasing a series on the acts of Nehru-Gandhi family. Tell me, which allegation did I level at Biju Babu in my tweet?… If anyone is hurt by what I have written in my tweets, then I can only try to make them understand,” he told news agency ANI. 

 Dehradun: A retired brigadier was allegedly shot dead after being hit by a stray bullet during a firing incident triggered by an overtaking dispute between two car occupants on Mussoorie Road on Monday morning, police said.. Police said the Fortuner lost control after the firing and crashed into a tree near a government primary school in Johri village. (HT Photo). According to officials, the incident occurred around 6.50 am near Malsi, when the occupants of a Delhi-registered Toyota Fortuner and a Mahindra Scorpio N got into an argument over not yielding the right of way. The dispute escalated, following which the Scorpio occupants allegedly chased the Fortuner and opened fire at its tyres in an attempt to stop the vehicle.. Superintendent of Police (City) Pramod Kumar said the deceased, identified as K Joshi (70), a resident of Rajpur, was out on his morning stroll when the incident happened.. “During the firing, the retired brigadier, who was out on a morning walk along the road, was accidentally hit by a bullet. He was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries during treatment,” he said.. Police said the Fortuner lost control after the firing and crashed into a tree near a government primary school in Johri village. Following the crash, the Scorpio occupants allegedly assaulted those inside the Fortuner and damaged the vehicle. Two persons travelling in the Fortuner sustained injuries and were taken to a hospital.. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dehradun and other officials rushed to the spot and later visited the hospital to gather details.. “The accused fled the scene after the incident. A district-wide intensive checking is underway to trace them. CCTV footage from nearby routes is also being scanned,” Kumar said. 

 Nitish Kumar has resigned from the Bihar Legislative Council, complying with constitutional provisions after his recent election to the Rajya Sabha. Kumar, who was elected to the Upper House of Parliament on March 16, was required under the Constitution to relinquish his membership in the state legislature within 14 days. March 30 marked the final day for him to do so.. Nitish Kumar addresses his last Bihar yatra — the Samriddhi Yatra — in Patna. (HT Photo). Under the Prohibition of Simultaneous Membership Rules, 1950—framed under Articles 101 and 190 of the Constitution—a person cannot simultaneously remain a member of both Parliament and a state legislature. They must resign from one seat within the stipulated timeframe.. BJP president Nitin Nabin on Monday also resigned from his position as member of the legislative council of Bihar, after being elected to the Rajya Sabha on March 16.. Nabin, announced his resignation on social media, addressing his constituents from Bankipur Bihar, and reflected on his political journey. The BJP president was elected to the assembly in a by poll necessitated by the demise of his father a legislator.. “After the sudden demise of my father in January 2006, the party gave me the opportunity to contest the by-election from Patna West, and on April 27, 2006, I was elected for the first time from the Patna West constituency, marking the beginning of my social and political life,” he said. 

 Airlines will begin offering at least 60 per cent of seats on every flight without any extra fee from April 20, according to the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). They have also been directed to follow a clear and open seat allocation policy.. At present, only 20 per cent of seats can be chosen without a fee, while the rest require payment. (Representational Image/Unsplash). This comes after an announcement by the civil aviation ministry on March 18 that airlines had been instructed to ensure that at least 60 per cent of seats on each flight are offered free of charge, to ensure fair access for passengers.. ALSO READ | Airlines object to ‘no selection fee’ directive for 60% seats, say it could raise fares for everyone, write to ministry. The aviation regulator issued a revised Air Transport Circular on March 20. A DGCA official told news agency PTI that the circular will come into force from April 20.. 60% seats in flights to be offered free of charge: What the circular says. The regulator said airlines must ensure “at least 60% of the seats in any flight shall be offered free of charge”, as mentioned in the DGCA circular.. “Airlines should maintain transparent seat allocation policies and clearly communicate the availability of free seats and applicable conditions on their booking interfaces,” it read.. The regulator also said that passengers booked under the same PNR (Passenger Name Record) should, as far as possible, be seated together. This usually means seats next to each other in the same row.. An official told the news agency that airlines are preparing to implement the new rule. At present, only 20 per cent of seats can be chosen without a fee, while the rest require payment.. Reports say airlines usually charge between ₹200 and ₹2,100 for seat selection. The cost depends on factors such as front-row seats and seats that offer extra legroom.. ALSO READ | Man ‘influenced by ghost’ tries to open emergency door on Varanasi-bound IndiGo flight. DGCA’s other directives for airlines. The circular also said that all charges for optional services, such as carrying sports equipment or musical instruments, along with liability terms in case of damage, must be clearly displayed and without confusion on airline websites and booking platforms.. The DGCA said the circular will take effect 30 days after the date of issuance.. The move comes at a time when concerns are growing over airlines charging high fees for different services, including seat selection.. Last week, IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet strongly opposed the decision. They said stopping airlines from charging for at least 60 per cent of seats will push them to raise ticket prices to make up for the loss in revenue.. In a letter sent to the civil aviation ministry on March 20, the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), which represents the three airlines, asked the ministry to reconsider and withdraw the decision. 

 Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has issued yet another written message — this time thanking Iraq — but his continued absence from public view is raising questions about his condition and whereabouts.. Iran’s message to US. (AP/Reuters). In his latest message, Khamenei expressed appreciation to Iraq for backing Iran during the ongoing conflict. According to Iranian media, the message specifically acknowledged both the Iraqi people and its top religious leadership.. He “expressed his appreciation to the supreme religious authority (in Iraq) and the people of Iraq for their clear stance against aggression against Iran and their support for our country”, the ISNA news agency reported, referring to Ali Sistani.. However, Mojtaba Khamenei’s absence from the public has fuelled speculation about whether he is alive or not. Adding to the uncertainty, Donald Trump, in an interview with the Financial Times, recently cast doubt on Khamenei’s condition. “The son is either dead or in extremely bad shape. We’ve not heard from him at all. He’s gone.”. Also read |Where is Mojtaba Khamenei? CIA, Mossad continue search for Iran’s Supreme Leader. The message was conveyed after a meeting involving the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq and Iran’s ambassador in Baghdad, though details about how it was transmitted were not disclosed, news agency AFP reported.. Still no public appearance. Despite being named supreme leader after the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, in an airstrike on February 28, Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in public even once.. Also read | How the son of Iran’s Supreme Leader built a global property empire. So far, his communication has been limited to a handful of written statements. These include an initial message after assuming leadership and another marking Nowruz, the Persian New Year. Both were read out on television by others rather than delivered by him directly.. State media has circulated images of him, but without confirming whether they are recent. Officials have suggested he is recovering from injuries sustained in an airstrike, but there has been no independent confirmation.. Speculation intensifies. The lack of any direct appearance has triggered intense speculation globally. Questions over whether he is able to lead in person remain unanswered.. US President Donald Trump last week said Washington was in talks with a “top person” in Iran, but clarified that the individual was not the supreme leader.. “We have not heard from the son… We don’t know if he is living,” said Trump.. Mojtaba Khamenei, now Iran’s third supreme leader since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, has taken charge at a moment of war and uncertainty. His leadership, however, is unfolding largely through written words rather than public presence.