1. The Bharatiya Janata Party hit by a blistering broadside from Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, in his first speech as Leader of the Opposition deployed union ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Kiren Rijiju, and Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi to make a point-by-point rebuttal. The trio have accused Mr Gandhi of belittling his post and of making an 'extremely irresponsible speech' that inflicted a 'grave insult' on Hindus. After Rahul Gandhi's fiery speech in Parliament yesterday, in which he launched a scathing attack on BJP large portions of which have been expunged from official records the stage is set for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's anticipated response. 2. The Delhi High Court today directed Trinamool Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP, Saket Gokhale, to pay Rs 50 lakh in damages in a defamation case filed by former diplomat Lakshmi Puri. The court also issued additional instructions, including a public apology on social media which must remain on his handle for at least six months. 3. In an act of defiance, the principal secretary of Environment and Forest department has questioned the formation of a fact-finding committee of the Delhi government ministers over cutting of trees in Ridge area, claiming it violated rules and could lead to contempt of the Supreme Court. 4. The flood situation in Assam turned grim on with over 6.44 lakh people affected in 19 districts, an official bulletin has said. At least eight rivers were flowing above the danger mark, with the Brahmaputra breaching its highest flood level at Nematighat in Jorhat district, it says. Multiple agencies, including the NDRF, SDRF, army, air force and local administration, were engaged in rescue operations, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) bulletin says.