Unprecedented Heatwave In Most Parts Of India, Other Top Stories

Amid a punishing heatwave building up in northwest India, the maximum temperature in Gurgaon crossed the 45 degrees mark yesterday. The maximum temperature yesterday was 45.6 degrees Celsius, the Indian Metereological Department said; In a strong rebuttal to Prime Minister Modi's appeal for non-BJP ruled states to cut VAT on petrol and diesel, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Dr P T R Palanivel Thiaga Rajan says the Prime Minister's facts are wrong. Pointing out that BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh has the highest tax on fuel, he says it's unfair that the Centre which increased tax ten times expects states to take the cut and other top stories.