NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Mumbai, Nov 18 (PTI) Following are the top stories from the Western Region at 1700 HRS.






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* We will break 50 per cent cap on reservations: Rahul Gandhi


Mumbai: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday promised to remove the 50 per cent cap on reservations and conduct a caste census in the country. *







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* Rahul Gandhi mocks PM Modi's 'Ek hai toh safe hai' slogan


Mumbai: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday brought a safe to his press conference in Mumbai, to mock Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Ek hai toh safe hai' slogan. *


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* NDA has created a new culture of politics, says J P Nadda


Navi Mumbai: The NDA and BJP-led Mahayuti in Maharashtra have created a new culture and a new definition of politics under PM Modi’s leadership, party president J P Nadda said on Monday. *







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* RSS remarks case: Lyricist Javed Akhtar acquitted as complainant withdraws case


Mumbai: A Mumbai court has acquitted veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar in a defamation case against him over his alleged objectionable remarks on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as the complainant has withdrawn the case.









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Campaigning for Rohit Pawar, NCP (SP) chief slams Shinde govt for farm crisis, suicides



Mumbai: NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar on Monday said the Mahayuti government had failed to address Maharashtra's agrarian crisis and claimed more than 20,000 farmers had ended their lives under the Eknath Shinde dispensation.















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No illegality in ban on mobile phones at polling booths: HC


Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Monday said there was no illegality in the Election Commission of India's decision prohibiting the use of mobile phones at polling booths in the upcoming state assembly elections.









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Maharashtra polls: NCP leader Bhujbal distances himself from 'Batenge toh Katenge' poll pitch


Yevla: Veteran OBC leader and Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who belongs to NCP, has distanced himself from the BJP's 'batenge toh katenge' poll pitch and asserted that the Mahayuti government will retain power with a good majority.








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PM's visit abroad before end of Maharashtra campaign shows he has conceded defeat: Reddy

Pune: Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Monday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit abroad before the campaigning for the November 20 Maharashtra elections could end shows that he and the BJP have conceded defeat.









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FIR against 15 seniors after death of MBBS student due to ragging in Gujarat


Patan (Gujarat): Police have registered an FIR against 15 students of a medical college in Gujarat's Patan district following the death of an 18-year-old student who was allegedly ragged by them, officials said on Monday.







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No urgent hearing on plea against appointment of Rashmi Shukla as DGP: HC


Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Monday refused an urgent hearing on a public interest litigation challenging the appointment of Rashmi Shukla as Maharashtra's director general of police while claiming it to be arbitrary and illegal.





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Congress started loss-making ventures, neglected villages: Gadkari


Gondia (Maharashtra): Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday slammed the Congress for launching loss-making ventures, neglecting villages and depriving the country of real development during its tenure in power. ***

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)