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Archives for March 2022

‘As desired by the Congress President’: Navjot Singh Sidhu resigns as party’s Punjab unit chief

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Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu

CHANDIGARH: Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Wednesday said he has resigned as the party’s Punjab chief.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi had on Tuesday asked its state unit chiefs in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab and Manipur to put in their papers after the party’s drubbing in the recently held Assembly polls in these states.

The cricketer-turned-politician shared information about his resignation on his twitter handle. “As desired by the Congress President I have sent my resignation….,” his tweet read. In his resignation letter written to Sonia Gandhi, Sidhu wrote, “I hereby resign as President (PPCC)

The Congress faced a humiliating defeat in Punjab, winning only 18 seats, while the Aam Aadmi Party romped home with 92 seats in the 117-member Punjab Assembly. Sidhu himself lost to the Aam Aadmi Party’s Jeevanjot Kaur from the Amritsar East Assembly seat by 6,750 votes.

He had taken over as the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president in July last year. Several Punjab Congress candidates on Tuesday had blamed indiscipline and infighting among the state unit leaders for the party’s crushing defeat.

Alleged disproportionate assets: ACB raids 18 officers in 75 locations in Karnataka

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BENGALURU: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday began one of its biggest operations in the State and raided 18 officers over alleged disproportionate assets (DA). According to the Additional Director  General, ACB, Seemant Singh, a team of 100 ACB officers accompanied with 300 staff are conducting searches at 75 locations.

The officers against whom raids are being conducted include: 

Rakesh Kumar, Town Planning, Bangalore Development Authority (BDA),

Ramesh Kankatte, regional forest officer, Social Forestry, Yadgir, Basavaraj Shekar Reddy Patil, executive engineer, Kaujalagi division,

Gokak, Basava Kumar S Annigeri, sheristedar, DC office, Gadag,

Gopinath N Malagi, project manager, Nirmiti Kendra, Vijayapura,

BK Shivakumar, additional director, Industries & Commerce, Bengaluru,

Shivanand P Sharanappa Khedagi, RFO, Badami,

Manjunath, assistant commissioner, Ramanagaram,

Srinivas, general manager, Social Welfare Department, Maheshwarappa, district environmental officer, Davangere,

Krishnan, Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), Haveri,

Chaluvaraj, inspector, Excise, Gundlupete Taluka,

Girish, assistant engineer, National Highway Subdivision,

Balakrishna HN, inspector, Vijayanagara police station,  Mysuru,

Gavirangappa, assistant executive engineer (AEE), Public Works Department (PWD), Chikamagaluru,

Ashok Reddy Patil, AEE, Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Ltd, Devadurga, Raichur and Daya Sunder Raju, AEE, Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation (KPTCL), Dakshina Kannada.

India in talks to buy discounted Russian crude oil

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NEW DELHI: India is exploring options for buying Russian crude oil, authorities said Tuesday, with prices there plunging to record lows in the wake of a global backlash to the Ukraine conflict.

New Delhi enjoys historic diplomatic and defence ties with Moscow, hosting a rare overseas trip by President Vladimir Putin late last year, and has called for an end to the violence in Ukraine but stopped short of condemning the invasion.

Its government is looking to cut a spiralling energy bill after oil prices surged in the wake of the conflict, at the same time as a Washington embargo prompts other potential buyers to shun Russian oil. 

Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the government was having conversations “at the appropriate level of the Russian Federation” regarding the purchase.

“Discussions are currently underway. There are several issues to be gone into like how much oil is available,” he told parliament.

Puri added that the government was weighing issues related to insurance, freight and payment for the crude.

Many countries, including European nations, remain heavily dependent on fuel from Russia, the world’s second-largest crude oil exporter behind Saudi Arabia. 

India — the world’s third-largest crude importer — currently buys only about three per cent of its supplies from Russia, according to government data. 

New Delhi is also mulling setting up a rupee-rouble trade mechanism for paying for oil and other goods, according to local media reports.

Crude oil prices slipped to around $100 per barrel Tuesday, extending their plunge on markets after reaching a near 14-year high last week. 

The Ukraine crisis has left India facing a diplomatic dilemma after years of close ties with Russia that began during the Cold War, with Moscow still by far its biggest arms supplier.

Late last year it began taking delivery from Russia of the S-400 missile defence system that it agreed to buy for over $5 billion in 2018, despite the threat of US sanctions.

At the same time, it needs Western support to contend with its increasingly assertive neighbour, China, in the wake of increasingly fractious territorial disputes that escalated into a deadly border clash in 2020.

India reports 2,876 fresh cases of COVID-19, 98 deaths recorded

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NEW DELHI: India logged 2,876 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 4,29,98,938, while the active cases dipped to 32,811, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Wednesday.

The death toll climbed to 5,16,072 with 98 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed. The active cases comprise 0.08 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate further improved to 98.72 per cent, the ministry said.

A reduction of 1,106 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours, it said. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,24,50,055 and the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.20 per cent, the ministry said.

The cumulative doses administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive has exceeded 180.60 crore, it said. According to the ministry, the daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.38 per cent and weekly positivity rate at 0.44 per cent.

As many as 78.05 crore total tests have been conducted so far and 7,52,818 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, it said. The 98 new fatalities include 72 from Kerala.

A total of 5,16,072 deaths have been reported so far in the country, including 1,43,757 from Maharashtra, 66,958 from Kerala, 40,024 from Karnataka, 38,024 from Tamil Nadu, 26,143 from Delhi, 23,492 from Uttar Pradesh and 21,189 from West Bengal.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav congratulates Punjab CM-designate Bhagwant Mann

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Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav

NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday congratulated Chief Minister-designate of Punjab Bhagwant Mann ahead of his oath-taking ceremony and hoped that the state will flourish under his leadership.

Over three lakh people are expected to attend Mann’s oath-taking ceremony. The Chief Minister-designate of Punjab had invited people of the state to attend his oath-taking ceremony, saying 3 crore people of Punjab will also take the oath along with him.

Earlier in the day, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal left for Punjab to attend Mann’s swearing-in ceremony.

“It’s a big day for Punjab today. In this golden morning of new hope, the entire Punjab will today come together and take a pledge to make it a prosperous Punjab. To witness that historic moment, I have also left for Khatkar Kalan, the native village of Shaheed Bhagat Singh,” Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi.

Hijab ban: Supreme Court to hear pleas against Karnataka HC ruling after Holi vacation

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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to list for hearing after Holi vacation the pleas challenging the Karnataka High Court verdict which dismissed the petitions seeking permission to wear hijab inside the classroom saying it is not a part of the essential religious practice in Islamic faith.

A bench comprising Chief Justice NV Ramana took note of the submissions of senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, appearing for some students, that urgent hearing was needed keeping in mind the upcoming examinations.

“The urgency is that there are many girls who have to appear in examinations,” the senior lawyer told the bench which also comprised Justices AS Bopanna and Hima Kohli. “Others also mentioned, let us see…we will list after the vacations. Give us time,” the CJI said.

Some petitions have been filed against the full bench high court verdict on the case in which it was held that wearing hijab is not a part of essential religious practice in Islamic faith under Article 25 of the constitution.

The high court dismissed the petitions filed by a section of Muslim students from the Government Pre-University Girls College in Udupi, seeking permission to wear Hijab inside the classroom. The prescription of school uniform is only a reasonable restriction, constitutionally permissible which the students cannot object to, the high court said.

India’s COVID vaccination drive is science-driven, people-powered: PM Narendra Modi

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NEW DELHI: Asserting that India’s COVID vaccination drive is science-driven and people-powered, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the country is in a much better position to fight this deadly pandemic but people must keep following all precautions.

Modi asserted that India’s vaccination drive, which is the largest in the world, is science-driven. Highlighting the journey of India’s vaccination drive, Modi said, “We began work to create vaccines in early 2020, to protect our citizens and strengthen our fight against the pandemic.”

“The manner in which our scientists, innovators and the private sector rose to the occasion is commendable. In late 2020, I had visited three of our vaccine manufacturers and got firsthand details of their efforts to protect our citizens,” he said.

In January 2021, India began its vaccination drive for doctors, healthcare and frontline workers, he noted. The aim was to ensure those at the forefront of the fight against COVID get proper protection at the earliest, he said.

In March 2021, vaccination was opened to those above 60 and those over 45 with comorbidities, he pointed out. “Later, the vaccination opened for all those above 18,” he said.

Modi said that it should make every Indian proud that the vaccines are free of cost for those who want it. “Today, India has administered over 180 crore doses, which includes over 9 crore doses in age group of 15-17 and over 2 crore precaution doses. This forms an important protective shield for our citizens against COVID-19,” he said in another tweet. Over the last year, India’s vaccination drive has been people-powered, he said.

Unlike other nations where we are witnessing a lot of vaccine hesitancy, people here have not only taken their doses but also urged others to get vaccinated as soon as possible, the prime minister said, adding that this is “heartening to see”.

“I would like to appreciate our state governments for their support towards India’s vaccination drive. Several states, especially the hill states and those where tourism is important, have achieved near total vaccination coverage and several big states have also done well,” he said.

Modi asserted that India’s vaccination efforts have made the global fight against COVID-19 stronger. “In line with India’s ethos of caring for the entire planet, we sent vaccines to several nations under the Vaccine Maitri programme. I am glad that India’s vaccination efforts have made the global fight against COVID-19 stronger,” he said.

He pointed out that India has many ‘Made in India’ vaccines, and the government has also granted approval to other vaccines after a due process of evaluation. “We are in a much better position to fight this deadly pandemic. At the same time, we have to keep following all COVID related precautions,” Modi said.

Entire Punjab to take oath to fulfil dreams of Bhagat Singh, Ambedkar: CM-designate Bhagwant Mann

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Bhagwant Mann

CHANDIGARH: Ahead of being sworn-in as Punjab chief minister on Wednesday, AAP leader Bhagwant Mann said people of the state will take oath with him to fulfil the dreams of Bhagat Singh and Babasaheb Ambedkar.

All arrangements are in place for the swearing-in ceremony of Mann at Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of legendary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh in Punjab’s Shaheed Bhagat Singh (SBS) Nagar district.

Mann in a tweet in Punjabi said, “The golden rays of sun have brought a new dawn today. To fulfil the dreams of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Babasaheb (BR Ambedkar), entire Punjab will take oath today at Khatkar Kalan.”

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other senior party leaders will also take part in the ceremony.

In a tweet, Kejriwal said he had left for Khatkar Kalan to witness a “historic moment”. “It’s a big day for Punjab today. In this golden morning of new hope, the entire Punjab will today come together and take a pledge to make it a prosperous Punjab. To witness the historic moment, I have also left for Khatkar Kalan, the native village of Shaheed Bhagat Singh,” Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi.

AAP leader and party’s Punjab affairs co-in-charge Raghav Chadha tweeted, “Today marks an important day in the history of Punjab as 3 crore Punjabis will together be sworn in as Chief Minister along with @BhagwantMann.”

“Oath to change this corrupt system & to fulfill dreams of Shaheed-E-Azam Bhagat Singh & Babasaheb Ambedkar Ajj ton har Punjabi CM houga (from today onwards, every Punjabi will be CM),” he said in the tweet.

Chadha also shared his photo in a yellow turban on his twitter handle. Newly-elected MLA from Anandpur Sahib Harjot Bains said, “Today marks the beginning of a new dawn in Punjab. Together, we will fulfil ‘Shaheed-E-Azam’ Bhagat Singh’ dreams which will be the real tribute to our shaheeds.”

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party supporters from across the state began reaching Khatkar Kalan in large numbers on Wednesday morning to attend the oath-taking ceremony. The men were wearing yellow turbans while women were draped in a yellow ‘dupatta’. “We want to congratulate Bhagwant Mann and the entire Punjab,” said a party supporter from Shutrana.

Another supporter, who came from Mann’s Satoj village in Sangrur said, “We have high expectations from him and he will definitely live up to them. The way Kejriwal did good work in Delhi, Mann will also do the same in Punjab.”

When Mann was leaving for Khatkar Kalan from Mohali, a few of his supporters showered flower petals on his vehicle and congratulated him. “I am very happy that my brother (Mann) is going to be the CM. We are very happy about it,” said a woman supporter in Mohali.

The 48-year-old Mann had invited the people of the state to attend his swearing-in ceremony, saying the three crore people of Punjab will also take oath with him. Foolproof security arrangements have been made for the ceremony and several senior officials, including inspector general and senior superintendents of police, have been deputed for the event.

Around 8,000 to 10,000 security personnel have been deployed for the event, said the officials. The AAP romped home winning 92 seats in the 117-member Punjab Assembly, decimating the Congress and the SAD-BSP combine.

Karnataka hijab row: Students yet to decide about future action post HC verdict

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UDUPI: As the Karnataka High Court pronounced the much expected verdict on Tuesday on hijab row stating wearing hijab is not an essential religious practice, the students who faced the setback after challenging the ban on wearing hijab inside classrooms have decided to wait and watch before arriving at their decision.

Asked whether Ayesha and others will go to college when the ban on hijab inside classrooms has to be followed now strictly as per High Court order, sources said she has not yet decided on that aspect.

Another student petitioner Aliya Assadi had on Monday, a day before the high court verdict had tweeted “Tomorrow is a verdict day and Hope that justice will be served to the students who were struggling for their fundamental rights. Hopefully once again we’ll be getting back to our normal educational life. Lets pray harder to Almighty. Indeed, he the best planner” (sic).

She was not available for comments on the verdict. Meanwhile, Athaulla Punjalukatte, state president of CFI told that High Court has passed an order, but the students who fought for their right to wear hijab have not got the justice. ”It is unconstitutional to delay the rights of the students, so we will go for continued legal fight,” he said.

Tight police protection was provided near Women’s Government PU College, Udupi, on Tuesday. It is the six students from this college who had challenged the ban on hijab inside classrooms before the High Court, Karnataka.

Udupi Deputy Commissioner Kurma Rao had on Monday declared holiday for schools and collegesin Udupi district on Tuesday, as the High Court was expected. Rao had said prohibitory order clamped under section 144 of CrPC in the 200 meter radius of educational institutions will continue to be in effect in areas around al Pre University Colleges and Degree Colleges.

Everyone has to follow HC’s order: Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai on court’s hijab ruling

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Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai

BENGALURU: Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai appealed students not to skip classes and also exams. “It is question of your future, education is very important,” he said.

Speaking to reporters, Bommai said that the order by government is upheld and said that hijab is not part of essential practice of Islamic and that everyone has to follow the high court order. He also appealed to people to maintain peace while implementing the order. “I also appeal to all religious heads, parents and students to maintain peace,” he said.

When asked about students boycotting exams in this season, the chief minister requested them not to skip exams as “future is important more than anything”. He said that they have already made arrangements to maintain and order. “If anyone tries to violate the law, action will taken against them,” he said.

Meanwhile, the state government is also looking to bring amendments in the law. Primary and secondary education minister BC Nagesh said that the lacunae in the Karnataka Education Act will be set right. “Uniform helps to bring everyone to the National Mainstream,” he said .

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