India Decides @ 9

India asks Pak for action over North-East scare; police probe former Haryana minister Gopal Kanda but there are no leads yet; Julian Assange dares the US to stop the witch hunt against WikiLeaks; and more on the 9 O'clock news.

Former Haryana minister Gopal Kanda sent to seven days in police custody; morphed images circulated online that triggered the North-East scare originated in Pakistan, says Government; and VVS Laxman calls it a day, retires from international cricket.

A Comptroller and Auditor General or CAG report tabled in Parliament, states that 142 coal fields were allotted to private and state-run firms without transparency and objectivity between 2005 and 2009. The BJP-led opposition says since Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held charge of the coal ministry for part of that period, he should, "introspect and resign."

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says "peace must be maintained at any cost" in the wake of rumours surrounding the north-eastern community; Maruti to re-open its Manesar plant on August 21 even as it fires 500 workers; and Ecuador grants asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange

There is anger over Mamata Banerjee's remarks on judges. Nitish Kumar promises to improve the power situation in Bihar. PM and Sonia Gandhi pay their last tributes to Vilasrao Deshmukh.

President Pranab Mukherjee says when protests become endemic, we are flirting with chaos; Baba Ramdev ends his fast, but vows to be back; Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh dies after a battle against cancer and more on the 9 O'clock news.

The West Bengal Human Rights Commission says citizens who are against the ruling party cannot be arrested for no reason; 'apolitical' Baba Ramdev now targets the Congress; and more on the 9 O'clock news.

Sushil Kumar wins a Silver in wrestling; politics over Assam in Mumbai even saw the attack on a memorial for soldiers; Press Council head Markandey Katju slams Mamata Banerjee; and more on the 9 O'clock news.

250 Hindu families from Pakistan have sought and been granted visas from India for pilgrimage purposes. But many of them are likely to stay on in India and seek asylum. What lies ahead for these people who will now be in no man's land?

There's controversy after foreign journalists met RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat and said he ranked Bihar ahead of Gujarat for its governance model; Steal a little, but don't act like dacoits: That's UP minister and Akhilesh Yadav's uncle Shivpal Yadav's advice to babus; MC Mary Kom tells NDTV her aim now is to change the colour of her medal from Bronze to Gold at the Rio games; and lots more on 9 O'clock news.