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Hitting back at the BJP on the VVIP chopper scam, the Congress alleged that Agusta Westland was blacklisted by the UPA but then “removed” from the blacklist by Modi Sarkar.



However, Defence Minister Parrikar challenged Congress to show him the UPA government order blacklisting the firm. The records of state-run HAL show that the firm was actually blacklisted on July 3, 2014, when NDA was in power.



Also, the Ministry Of External Affairs has denied the allegations that Prime Minister Modi and Italian Prime Minister had a meeting on the sidelines of UNGA last year where the former offered to settle Italian marines case in return for assistance in chopper probe.



The Supreme Court has extended the stay on the Uttarakhand High Court order quashing president’s rule in the state. So, the floor test scheduled for 29 April now won’t be held. The next hearing in the apex court is on 3 May.



A dozen laser walls have been activated along the Indo-Pak border in Punjab to plug the porous riverine and terrain more vulnerable to infiltration by terrorists. A total of 45 such laser walls will be installed in these areas along the international border in Punjab and Jammu.



The NDA Government on Wednesday informed the Rajya Sabha that it plans to set up a registry of sex offenders. Juveniles will also be included in the database which will be put up on the website of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).



BJP’s digital cell has prepared the digital profile of all its 282 MPs on PM Modi’s instructions, according to this The Hindu report. The appraisal collates all their social media activity and how much of the government’s work is propagated through these accounts. The report, with comments on each profile, has been circulated among the MPs, with a one-page prescription on leveraging social media to “sell” the NDA government.



Ted Cruz, in a desperate bid to win the Indiana primary (which is perhaps his last chance to block Trump from getting the nomination), has named his VP running mate: Carly Fiorina. To name a running mate even before getting the party nomination is extremely rare but Cruz is trying to capture the narrative after five state clean sweep by Trump on Super Tuesday.



Op-eds You Shouldn’t Miss



The Chopper Challenge For The CBI: CBI’s first task will have to be getting custody of Mr Michel, the middleman. No other task is as vital as this.



An Economic Defence Of Surge Pricing: If the ban on surge pricing is permanent, revenue considerations may force the base, 1x rates to rise.



Diffusing The Judicial Burden: The need for a national court of appeal cannot be overstated.



Swarajya Special



AgustaWestland - Is This Sonia’s Bofors: Everything you need to know about the UPA-era scam.



We hope you enjoyed reading our morning brief. Have a great day ahead!