QWrap: Maha Farmers’ Protest Called Off; Plane Crash in Nepal

From Maharashtra farmers’ protest to flight crash at Nepal airport, top five headlines of the day in five minutes.

A group of farmers protesting at Azad Maidan, Mumbai.

(Photo: Ankita Sinha/The Quint)

1. Maharashtra Farmers' Protest Called off After CM's Assurances

Nearly 35,000 farmers from across Maharashtra marched from Nashik to Mumbai, covering the 180-kilometre journey on foot, to gherao the state Assembly on 12 March. The farmers, under the aegis of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), are demanding a complete farm loan waiver and the implementation of recommendations of the MS Swaminathan Commission.

Political parties like the Congress, the NCP, the MNS and the Shiv Sena, a BJP ally, declared their support to the farmers’ agitation. The Opposition cornered the government in the Maharashtra Assembly today over the issue.

“We're positive towards fulfilling their demands," Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said in the state Assembly, following a meeting with a delegation of the protesting farmers. "Since the first day of the morcha we tried to discuss issues with them. Girish Mahajan was in touch with them from day 1. But they were firm on taking out the march,” he said.

After Fadnavis’ assurances, the protest was reportedly called off.

(Get live updates here.)

2. At Least 50 Dead As US-Bangla Flight Crashes at Kathmandu Airport

A US-Bangla Airlines passenger aircraft crashed at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport on the afternoon of 12 March. The flight, which skidded off the runaway while landing, had 71 passengers on board.

(Get live updates here)

3. Theni Forest Fire: Nine Trekkers Killed in TN, Rescue Ops Underway

At least 9 people were charred to death in a massive forest fire that broke out suddenly in the Kurangani hills in Tamil Nadu’s Theni on Sunday, 11 March. The nine killed include four women, four men and a child.

The fire trapped around 37 trekkers, most of them women, with 27 rescued so far. Of the rescued persons, 10 of them have minor injuries, while 8 of them have serious injuries.

According to ANI, 16 commandos of Garud Commando Force and four choppers from the Indian Air Force, with one of them at stand by, had been at the search and rescue operation since Monday morning.

(Read full story here)

4. Modi, Macron Inaugurate UP’s Biggest Solar Plant in Mirzapur

French President Emmanuel Macron who is on a 4-day visit to India inaugurated a 100W solar power plant with PM Narendra Modi in Uttar Pradesh's Mirzapur.

PM Modi and Macron also took a boat ride on the Ganga river from Varanasi's Assi ghat to the Dashashwamedh ghat. They returned to Varanasi and visited the Deen Dayal Hastkala Sankul to interact with artisans.

(Get live updates here)

5. Tell Us If Your Dream House Is Still “Under-Construction”

Are you a victim of famous builders who lured and promised you into buying fancy apartments in a lush-green complex but failed to give you possession of the property?

Are you living in a rented house and also paying EMI for your under-construction home?

Are you tired of approaching the authorities to seek justice?

If it’s a yes, yes, yes all the way, we at The Quint want to hear your side of the story. On World Consumer Rights Day, 15 March, we are asking all homebuyers who were defrauded to come together and vent any grievances or queries they may have.

All you need to do is send us a writeup or a video on the same at [e-mail].