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Dhami wins from Champawat seat

03-Jun-2022 407

Dehradun, Jun 3 (PTI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday won the bypoll to the Champawat Assembly seat by more than 55,000 votes.

He defeated Nirmala Gahtori of the Congress by 55,025 votes, election officials in Champawat said.

Dhami had to contest a bypoll from the seat to become a member of the state Assembly, which was a constitutional requirement he needed to fulfil within six months of being sworn in as the chief minister.

He had lost from Khatima in the state assembly polls held in February.

Centre will soon arrest Manish Sisodia in 'fake' case to hinder Delhi's progress: Kejriwal

03-Jun-2022 402

New Delhi : (PTI) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday claimed the Centre has directed its agencies to arrest his deputy Manish Sisodia in "false" cases to hinder the progress made by the city in the field of education, even as he took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi to arrest all his ministers in one go.

The AAP supremo also said the progress of several important projects of Delhi like Yamuna cleaning and opening of new mohalla clinics has been hampered following the arrest of Health Minister Satyendar Jain.

Jain was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case on Monday. On Tuesday, he was sent to ED custody till June 9 by a court here which noted that his interrogation was required to unearth the alleged larger conspiracy.

Kejriwal said he had learnt about the arrest of Jain from credible sources a few months back and had shared that information (in the public domain) and the same sources have informed him about Sisodia's arrest.

The Centre is fabricating false charges against Sisodia just like they did to arrest Satyendar Jain. The Centre has directed all its agencies to allot all their resources on framing bogus cases to arrest Sisodia," he claimed during a media briefing.

Referring to Sisodia as the pioneer of India's education revolution and perhaps the best education minister of independent India, the chief minister said he is a ray of hope for not just Delhi, but for the children of the entire country.

"It is because of him they are confident that someone can transform their schools too. He has brought fame to India on a global stage and people like him should be transforming schools all over India instead of being sent to jail," he said.

Accusing the Union government of wanting to stop the progress of Delhi's health and education sector by jailing Jain and Sisodia, Kejriwal recalled that even five years ago, over 20 AAP MLAs were arrested by the Centre's agencies, but they all were acquitted in the court of law and the courts had rapped the investigators.

"Today, we take pride in saying that Modi himself has given us a certificate of honesty. Will all the central agencies keep wasting our time by filing cases one by one against us? How will we be able to work like this?" he questioned.

With folded hands, I request the prime minister to consider my humble appeal. Mister prime minister, instead of putting us in jail one by one, please put all the AAP ministers and MLAs in jail at once. Please ask all your agencies to take out investigations against all of us at once only. Get done with it once and for all. Such gimmicks hinder your public interest project," he said.

Exuding confidence that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will "once again get the certificate of the most honest 'deshbhakt' (patriotic) party of India once this slander campaign ends", the chief minister said he does not understand politics.

Some people are saying this is happening in the run up to the Himachal Pradesh polls. Some call it a consequence of our victory in Punjab. We do not understand politics. We do not care for it. We are not scared of going to jail," he said.

He also said the arrests of Sisodia and Jain are a loss to the nation.

"Eighteen lakh children study in our government's schools. Not just the future, but the present of these children was in a misery. I ask the students and their parents, do you think a man like your education minister, a man of the pedigree of Manish Sisodia can ever be corrupt?" he said.

Crediting Sisodia, he said Delhi's Model of Education is not only spreading its wings in India, but all over the globe, and leaders from across the globe are requesting the Delhi government to teach them to run Happiness and Entrepreneurship classes.

"It is because of Manish Ji that an education system from India got fame at the international level. These people want to hinder Delhi's progress in education and healthcare by framing Sisodia and Jain in fake cases. I pledge to not let this system break at any cost. ... All I know is that putting them behind the bars is a tragic loss for the country," he said.

Listing out the implications of Jain's arrest, Kejriwal said his minister was working on cleaning the Yamuna, increasing the number of Mohalla Clinics and supplying drinking water to every household 24x7 here, but now the progress of these projects will get hindered.

"If people who revolutionise governance and make life easier for the public can be judged corrupt, then the parameters of honesty must be in a different paradigm altogether, he said.

Over half a dozen portfolios allocated to Jain have been handed over to Sisodia, according to an official notification.

Citizenship Amendment Act will not be implemented in Kerala, says CM

03-Jun-2022 427

The satates man

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday asserted that his government would not implement the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

Speaking at a function organised to mark the conclusion of his government’s first anniversary celebrations here, he said, “The government has a clear position on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). That will continue.”

The Chief Minister said that “our country works on the principle of secularism as mentioned in the Constitution of India. Nowadays, attempts are being made to destroy secularism. A certain group of people are greatly concerned about this. In a recent incident, a group of people were determining citizenship on the basis of religion. Kerala government has taken a firm stand against this incident.”

He added, “Several surveys are being conducted in different parts of the country to create communal tension among people. But here, a survey has been completed to identify the most impoverished families in our society. Further steps will be taken as part of this survey.”

While speaking at the first anniversary celebrations of the LDF government, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reiterated that the state would not implement Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

“The State government has taken a firm stand that citizenship would not be determined based on religion,” Vijayan added.

Last month, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said in Siliguri in West Bengal that the law would be implemented once the COVID-19 pandemic has ended.

“We will implement Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) on the ground the moment COVID-19 wave ends,” Union Home minister Amit Shah said in West Bengal’s Siliguri city.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 which was passed by the Parliament of India on December 11, 2019, but is yet to be implemented, aims to grant citizenship to those members of the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who faced persecution in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

On December 12, 2019, the CAA was notified and came into force on January 10, 2020. It aims to facilitate the grant of citizenship to migrants belonging to the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, who had come to India on or before December 31, 2014.

Constable booked for raping woman after spiking drink

02-Jun-2022 429

Kannauj (UP), Jun 2 (PTI) A constable has been booked for allegedly raping a woman at a hotel in Mathura after giving her a drink laced with sedatives, police said on Thursday.

An FIR was registered against constable Shashi Kapoor, who is posted at Iglas police station of Aligarh, on Wednesday in this regard, Superintendent of Police Prashant Verma said.

The FIR was registered at Saurikh police station here, he said.

According to the complaint, the constable gave the 22-year-old woman sedatives and took her to the hotel where he raped her in an unconscious state on May 24.

The woman said the accused constable was known to her and that he visited her place and told her that his wife was not well, adding that she then went with him after which the incident took place.

The victim also alleged that she was threatened by Kapoor, saying that he would make the video of the criminal act viral.

Police is probing the matter.

Kashmiri Pandits protesting but BJP busy celebrating its eight years: Rahul

02-Jun-2022 379

New Delhi, (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday slammed the government over the killing of a Hindu woman teacher in Kulgam, saying Kashmiri Pandits are protesting but the BJP is busy celebrating eight years of Modi government.

His remarks come a day after school teacher Renu Bala was gunned down near her school in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam by terrorists.

Security personnel and civilians are dying in Kashmir and this is the truth and it is not a film, he said.

"In Kashmir, 15 security personnel have been martyred and 18 civilians have been killed in the last five months. Yesterday too a teacher was murdered," he said in a tweet in Hindi.

"Kashmiri Pandits are sitting on a dharna for the last 18 days but the BJP is busy celebrating eight years. Prime Minister ji, this is not a film but it is the truth of Kashmir today," Gandhi also said.

ED summons Sonia, Rahul in National Herald money laundering case

02-Jun-2022 461

New Delhi :(PTI) The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday summoned Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her MP son Rahul Gandhi for questioning in a money laundering case linked to the National Herald newspaper, officials said.

While Sonia Gandhi, 75, has been asked to depose before the federal agency at its headquarters in central Delhi on June 8, Rahul Gandhi has been asked to appear on Thursday (June 2).

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi told at a press conference that Sonia Gandhi will comply with the summons.

Rahul Gandhi, 51, has written to the probe agency to postpone the date to after June 5 as he is not in the country, Singhvi and another Congress leader Randeep Surjewala told reporters.

"The Modi government should know that by registering such fake and fabricated cases, they cannot succeed in their cowardly conspiracy," Singhvi said.

The case to probe alleged financial irregularities in the party-promoted Young Indian that owns the National Herald newspaper was registered recently.

The agency, officials said, wants to record the statements of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi under criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The National Herald is published by Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and owned by Young Indian Pvt Limited.

The agency recently questioned senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Pawan Bansal as part of the investigation.

The questioning of the senior Congress leaders and the Gandhis is part of the ED's investigation to understand the shareholding pattern, financial transactions and role of the promoters of Young Indian and AJL, officials said.

The agency registered a fresh case under the criminal provisions of the PMLA after a trial court here took cognisance of an Income Tax Department probe against Young Indian Pvt Ltd on the basis of a private criminal complaint filed by BJP MP Subramanian Swamy in 2013.

The members of the first family of the Congress party, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, are among the promoters and shareholders of Young Indian.

After the ED examined Kharge last month, the Congress' whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore accused the government of "harassing" him.

BJP MP Swamy had accused Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and others of conspiring to cheat and misappropriate funds with Young Indian Pvt Ltd paying only Rs 50 lakh to obtain the right to recover Rs 90.25 crore that Associate Journals Ltd owed to the Congress.

The Delhi High Court in February last year issued a notice to the Gandhis for their response on Swamy's plea seeking to lead evidence in the matter before the trial court.

The Gandhi's had secured separate bails from the court in 2015 after they furnished personal bonds of Rs 50,000 and one surety.

They, however, contended in the Delhi High Court that the plea by Swamy was "misconceived and premature".

The other accused in this case filed by Swamy are Suman Dubey and technocrat Sam Pitroda. They have earlier said that they did nothing wrong.

Moosewala's killing: Jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi

02-Jun-2022 682

Delhi ; PTI Jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who is suspected to be involved in Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala's killing, on Wednesday withdrew from the Delhi High Court his plea in which he had sought necessary safeguards as he apprehended a "fake encounter" by the Punjab Police.

At the outset, his counsel submitted before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma that he wishes to withdraw the petition and wants to file it before the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The court said, "the petition is dismissed as withdrawn".

Delhi Government Standing Counsel (criminal) Sanjay Lau said the petition was not maintainable in Delhi.

The plea, in the Delhi High Court, had sought direction to the Tihar Jail authority and the Delhi Police to ensure that necessary safeguards, including videography, are taken for his safety before giving his custody to any other state police, including the Punjab Police.

Bishnoi had earlier approached a district court here which refused to entertain his plea.

He was lodged in Tihar Jail in connection with a case lodged under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA) and was on Tuesday remanded in three-day custody of the Delhi Police Special Cell after it arrested him in an Arms Act case.

On May 29, Moosewala was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Punjab's Mansa district, a day after the state government curtailed his security cover. His cousin and a friend, who were travelling in a jeep with him, were also injured in the attack.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has announced setting up a judicial commission headed by a sitting high court judge to probe the killing of 28-year-old Moosewala.

Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, known as Sidhu Moosewala, was among the 424 people whose security was withdrawn or curtailed on May 28 temporarily.

Bishnoi, in his petition filed in the high court through advocate Vishal Chopra, sought a direction to Central Tihar jail authorities to give prior intimation to his advocates before giving his custody to any other state police on any production warrant.

He said he apprehends a fake encounter by the Punjab Police due to "political unrest between political parties there".

"Pass a direction to the Delhi Police and Tihar Jail authority to ensure all necessary security arrangements for the petitioner as he shall be duly handcuffed, shackled and videographed during the production warrant and on transit remand if any warrant produced by the Punjab Police for the safety of his life," the plea said.

Punjab police chief V K Bhawra had claimed that prima facie, it seemed to be an inter-gang rivalry between the Lawrence Bishnoi Group and Lucky Patial group.

Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar has allegedly claimed responsibility for the murder on May 29, and said it was planned by him and the Lawrence Bishnoi group.

BJP leader Hariom Yadav and his son Vijay Yadav in an attempt to murder case

01-Jun-2022 542

Firozabad: A local court here on Tuesday acquitted BJP leader Hariom Yadav and his son Vijay Yadav in an attempt to murder case.

The incident had taken place on October 9, 2015. Hariom Yadav's lawyer Rajesh Kulshrestha said the court acquitted Hariom Yadav after seven years.

Kulshrestha added that on October 9, 2015, Rajeev Yadav, a resident of Shikohabad police station area, had lodged a case against Hariom Yadav and his son for attacking his uncle Ramesh Chand. Police had given a clean chit to the former MLA and his son. However, a court intervened and ordered them to appear before it, and had also sent the father-son duo to jail.

Additional Sessions Judge Jitendra Kumar Singh while hearing the case acquitted them owing to lack of evidence. Hariom Yadav was an SP MLA from the Sirsaganj Assembly constituency in Firozabad from 2017 to 2022.—PTI

The price for a commercial LPG cylinder has been reduced by Rs 135 with immediate effect

01-Jun-2022 464

The price for a commercial LPG cylinder has been reduced by Rs 135 with immediate effect from today. With the latest reduction, a 19-kg commercial Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder in Delhi will now cost Rs 2219.

Prior to the reduction in prices, the commercial LPG cylinder was priced at Rs 2454 in Kolkata, Rs 2306 in Mumbai, and Rs 2507 in Chennai. After the respite, the rate for a commercial LPG cylinder in Kolkata is now Rs 2322, Rs 2171.50 in Mumbai, and Rs 2373 in Chennai.

This reduction in price is only valid for commercial ones, and not the domestic LPG cylinders.

Earlier, in the first week of May, the price of an LPG cylinder was hiked by Rs 50.

On May 1, the price of a 19-kilograms commercial LPG cylinder was increased by Rs 102.50, to Rs 2355.50.

Last month, on May 1, Oil marketing companies organized more than 5000 LPG panchayats on the occasion of Ujjwala Diwas, where apart from experience sharing, aimed at safe and sustained usage of LPG, all-out efforts were made to maximize customer enrolment.

by AGENCY

India sends one more consignment of 40,000 MT of diesel to crisis-hit Sri Lanka

01-Jun-2022 489

Colombo, (PTI) India on Tuesday said it has delivered one more consignment of 40,000 metric tonnes of diesel to Sri Lanka to help ease the acute fuel shortage in the debt-ridden island nation which is grappling with its worst economic crisis.

India extended an additional USD 500 million credit line to Sri Lanka last month to help the neighbouring country import fuel as it has been struggling to pay for imports after its foreign exchange reserves plummeted sharply in recent times, causing a devaluation of its currency and spiralling inflation.

India on May 23 delivered around 40,000 metric tonnes of petrol to Sri Lanka.

"Powering #SriLanka !!!! A shipment of 40,000 MT of diesel supplied under #Indian assistance reached #Colombo yesterday (Monday) evening," the Indian High Commission tweeted.

India and Sri Lanka signed a USD 500 million Line of Credit Agreement for the purchase of petroleum products on February 2, 2022.

With the economic crisis and the shortage of forex, the Indian credit line of 500 million for fuel imports has provided a lifeline to the island nation, which is currently experiencing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence in 1948.

With long lines for fuel, cooking gas, essentials in short supply and long hours of power cuts, the public has been suffering for months.

A total of close to 400,000 MT of various types of fuel have been delivered with Indian assistance in March and April.

In keeping with India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy, New Delhi has extended this year alone support worth over USD 3.5 billion to the people of Sri Lanka for helping them overcome their current difficulties.

Kejriwal defends arrested Delhi minister, cites Punjab action

01-Jun-2022 576

New Delhi, May 31 (PTI) Defending Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain who has been arrested in a money laundering case, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said he is a hardcore patriot and an honest person and the allegations against him are "completely false'.

During a media briefing, the AAP supremo alleged that Jain's arrest by Enforcement Directorate on Monday was carried out due to political reasons and asserted he would come out clean in the case eventually.

"We are hardcore patriots. We consider corruption a betrayal to the country. We can die but cannot betray our country," Kejriwal said.

Citing the recent case of Punjab, he said that state Health Minister Vijay Singla was sacked over graft charges. He was arrested shortly, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann asserting his government has zero-tolerance for corruption.

"We sent our minister to jail. Neither the media nor the opposition knew about his corruption and we could have suppressed the matter, but we didn't.

"Even in 2015, I had sacked my Food Minister (Asim Ahmed Khan) and handed him over to CBI. Nobody would have seen this level of honesty from any political party in the world," he said.

Kejriwal asserted that if there was even one per cent of truth to the allegations against Jain, he would have himself sacked him.

"We follow Bhagat Singh's ideals. He gave his life for the country. Every AAP worker knows that if they have to stay in the party, they should be ready to sacrifice their lives and go to jail. He (Jain) is brave, a hardcore patriot and this experience will only strengthen his resolve," he said.

BKU leader Dilbag Singh attacked by bike-borne men in UP

01-Jun-2022 405

Lakhimpur Kheri (UP), Jun 1 (PTI) BKU leader Dilbag Singh, a witness in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, was allegedly attacked by two unidentified men here, police said on Wednesday.

The attack took place Tuesday night when the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Tikait) district president was returning home from Aliganj- Muda road in Gola kotwali area in his SUV when the bike-borne miscreants opened fire on him.

Singh, however, sustained no injuries in the attack.

Singh is among the witnesses in Tikunia violence of October 3, 2021 in which eight people, including four farmers and a journalist, died. Union minister Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra was arrested in connection with the incident.

Talking to PTI over phone, the BKU leader said the miscreants punctured a tyre of his SUV owing to which he had to stop the vehicle.

"The assailants attempted to open the gates and windows of the SUV. When failed, they fired two shots at the window pane of the driver side," he said.

Singh said he was driving the SUV and was alone.

He said sensing the intentions of the attackers, he folded the driver seat and bent down towards the floor.

As the vehicle windows were covered with dark film, the attackers could not decide the BKU leader's status in the SUV and fled away on their bikes.

Singh said he had sent his official gunman (provided to him by the district administration) on leave owing to his son's sudden sickness on the day.

He lodged a complaint with Gola kotwali police soon after the attack.

He added that he had also informed BKU-Tikait spokesperson Rakesh Tikait about the incident.

Meanwhile, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Arun Kumar Singh told PTI that on the complaint of Dilbag Singh, an FIR under appropriate sections of IPC had been lodged.

He said forensic teams had been sent to the spot to examine the vehicle and the crime scene and collect evidences.

He further said police were investigating the case and efforts were on to identify the attackers.

The ASP added that the BKU-Tikait district president sent his gunman on leave on his own without intimating the senior police authorities.

"If the matter of leave to his gunman had been intimated to us, we would have provided him another gunman as an alternative arrangement," he said.

India records 2,338 Covid cases, 19 more deaths in a day

31-May-2022 424

New Delhi, May 31 (PTI) India recorded 2,338 new Covid infections in a day that took its case tally to 4,31,58,087 while the number of active cases rose to 17,883, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.

The death toll climbed to 5,24,630 with 19 more people succumbing to the viral disease, the data updated at 8 am stated.

According to the ministry, active cases comprise 0.04 per cent of the total infections and the national COVID-19 recovery rate was 98.74 per cent.

India's active caseload increased by 185 in 24 hours. The daily positivity rate was 0.64 per cent and the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 0.61 per cent, the data showed.

A total of 85.04 crore tests to detect COVID-19 have been conducted so far of which 3,63,883 were carried out in the last 24 hours.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,26,15,574, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.22 per cent.

The total number of vaccine doses administered in the country so far has exceeded 193.45 crore.

India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.

The country crossed the grim milestone of two crore COVID-19 cases on May 4 and three crore on June 23 last year.

Terrorists gun down Kashmiri Pandit teacher in Kulgam

31-May-2022 672

Srinagar, May 31 (PTI) Terrorists on Tuesday shot dead a Kashmiri Pandit teacher in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

Rajni Bala (36) of Samba in Jammu region sustained injuries when terrorists fired at her in Gopalpora area of Kulgam where she was posted as a teacher, they said.

An injured Bala was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival, the officials said.

They said the area has been cordoned off and a manhunt launched to track down the assailants.

This is the second killing of a Kashmiri Pandit in the month of May. On May 12, Rahul Bhat was shot dead inside the tehsildar's office in Chadoora tehsil of Budgam district.

This is the seventh targeted killing in Kashmir in the month. While three of the victims were off-duty policeman, four were civilians.

Punjab govt will leave no stone unturned to bring culprits to justice: CM Mann on Moosewala killing

31-May-2022 428

Chandigarh : (PTI) Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday said his government will request the chief justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to get the Sidhu Moosewala murder case probed by a sitting high court judge.

The government will leave no stone unturned to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice, said Mann.

His statement came after Moosewala's father Balkaur Singh demanded a probe by a sitting judge of the high court into the murder.

In a statement here, Mann also expressed deep shock over the demise of Moosewala.

Punjab Government shall be requesting the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court to get the case inquired into by the sitting judge of the high court, he said.

The state government shall ensure full cooperation in this enquiry commission including that from any central agency like the NIA.

Mann further said he had already ordered an inquiry at the highest level into aspects of security reduction and fix responsibility,

The famous Punjabi singer and Congress leader was shot dead on Sunday by unidentified assailants in Mansa district, a day after the state government curtailed his security cover.

SAARC Journalists Forum to intensify the movement against PIB

30-May-2022 585

The General Secretary of India's Chapter of Forum, Sushil Bharti gave information to this effect , here today. A resolution in this regard was passed unanimously in the web meeting held on 29th May 2022, said Mr. Bharti.

New Delhi, May 29, 2022.The SAARC Journalists Forum decided to intensify the movement of journalists against PIB.

The General Secretary of India’s Chapter of Forum, Sushil Bharti gave information to this effect , here today. A resolution in this regard was passed unanimously in the web meeting held on 29th May 2022, said Mr. Bharti.

A memorandum in this regard was given by the Joint Forum to the Principal Director General of PIB, Mr. Jaideep Bhatnagar on May 14, but he has not yet given any reply. This shows his intention, he said.

This is a democracy and there is no place for bureaucracy and dictatorship.Therefore, we have to take this movement to a wider level and it will be our responsibility. So far five journalist unions have openly supported this movement and have resolved to fight jointly, he said.

The government has withdrawn a UIDAI advisory that cautioned the general public against sharing photocopies of their Aadhaar

30-May-2022 392

New Delhi: The government has withdrawn a UIDAI advisory that cautioned the general public against sharing photocopies of their Aadhaar with any organization. The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) said it is withdrawing the press release as it can lead to misinterpretation. ''The release advised the people not to share photocopies of their Aadhaar with any organization because it can be misused. Alternatively, a masked Aadhaar which displays only the last 4 digits of the Aadhaar number, can be used.

''However, given the possibility of the misinterpretation of the Press Release, the same stands withdrawn with immediate effect,'' the statement said.A press release issued by the Bengaluru Regional Office of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) asked the general public not to share photocopy of one's Aadhaar with any organization because it can be misused. Alternatively, a masked Aadhaar that displays only the last 4 digits of the biometric ID can be used for the purpose, it had added. MeitY, in the withdrawal statement, said the UIDAI-issued Aadhaar cardholders are only advised to exercise normal prudence in using and sharing their Aadhaar numbers. ''Aadhaar Identity Authentication ecosystem has provided adequate features for protecting and safeguarding the identity and privacy of the Aadhaar holder,'' the statement added.—PTI

Jharkhand to get WHO award for tobacco control

30-May-2022 477

Dhanbad (PTI) Recognising its efforts in controlling tobacco consumption, the World Health Organization (WHO) has selected Jharkhand for the World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) Award-2022, an official said on Sunday.

Stata Tobacco Control Cell of the Health Department will receive the award on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day in New Delhi on May 31, Jharkhand's nodal officer of National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) Lalit Ranjan Pathak told PTI.

"It's a great achievement for Jharkhand, which could be possible only due to political and administrative supports that tobacco control cell has got in implementing the programme," Pathak said.

NTCP was launched in Jharkhand in 2012 when the tobacco prevalence rate in the state was 51.1 per cent, of which 48 per cent were smokeless users, according to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS)-1 report.

The GATS-2 report, which was published in 2018, said tobacco users came down to 38.9 per cent in the state, of which 35.4 per cent were smokeless users.

"To bring it further down, Jharkhand initiated a slew of measures between 2018 and 2022," Pathak said.

The Union Health Ministry, WHO and the dedicated state and district health teams have contributed a lot to reduce tobacco prevalence rate in Jharkhand, he said.