From the Newsroom: MI to face RCB in IPL 2021 opener

In your evening news brief, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Mamata Banerjee of resorting to dynasty politics; actor Mithun Chakraborty joins the BJP; 5% rebate from automakers for junking old vehicles and buying new ones; Mumbai Indians to face Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL opener.

Here is the top news of March 7, 2021:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a frontal attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday. Addressing a gathering at BJP’s mega rally at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata, the Prime Minister accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo for working in the interest of “a single bhatija”’ and for the youth of Bengal. He also accused Mamata of resorting to dynasty politics "like the Congress".

Veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty joined the BJP on Sunday at Brigade Parade Ground here, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address a rally later in the day.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had met the actor at his Mumbai residence last month setting off speculation that he might join the BJP.

Chakraborty, a former Rajya Sabha member of the TMC, had quit the Upper House in 2016 after his name surfaced in Saradha Ponzi scam.

There is good news for consumers who are going to junk their old vehicles and buy a new one under the Vehicle Scrapping Policy as automakers will give a 5 per cent rebate on the new purchase, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said.

The voluntary vehicle scrapping policy announced in the Union Budget for 2021-22 provides for fitness test after 20 years for personal vehicles while commercial vehicles would require it after the completion of 15 years.

The BCCI on Sunday announced the schedule for IPL 2021 which is set to begin on April 9 and end on May 30 with matches across six venues -- Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi and Kolkata.

Each team will play at four venues during the league stage and no team will get to play at home.

Defending champions Mumbai Indians will face Royal Challengers Bangalore in the tournament opener in Chennai on April 9.